Annual Survey On The Costs Of Childcare Launches

Junior Ministers Jennifer McCann and Jonathan Bell were the key note speakers at today's launch of the annual survey on the costs of childcare from Employers for Childcare.

Speaking at the event at Parliament Buildings, Junior Minister Jennifer McCann said: "It is important to recognise the important contribution of Employers for Childcare. Their voucher scheme enables people to find and pay for suitable childcare in a way that benefits both parties. Affordable and quality childcare provision is essential if we want our society and economy to work successfully.

"Our Programme for Government commits us to publish and implement a childcare strategy – a strategy that will result in childcare provision that is both integrated and affordable. Good childcare provision of the kind we are aiming to put in place will benefit children and lead to positive, lifelong outcomes for the children."

Employers for Childcare (EFC) is a local charity that aims to help parents with dependent children get into work, and to stay in work. It provides advisory services and a childcare voucher scheme that is operated on a social economy basis.

Junior Minister Jonathan Bell added: "I commend Employers for Childcare for their contribution through this survey and the work they have done in so many different areas. It is a great achievement to have moved from being grant funded to being fully self-financing through actively helping people secure and pay for the childcare they need."

(CD)