Added to the contribution from Tax Free Childcare, the total saving to parents in Northern Ireland rises to over £2million.
The Minister said: “I announced my intention in May 2024 to have the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme operational by September this year and I have delivered on this ambitious commitment. I am delighted that in the short time the scheme has been operational, close to 13,000 children and 1,500 childcare providers have now registered for the scheme."
In its first month of operation, the scheme saw 12,630 children registered and approved to benefit from the subsidy, which aims to alleviate financial pressure on families and help more parents, particularly women, stay in or return to work. Designed for working parents, with children below primary school age, the NICSS builds on Tax-Free Childcare eligibility targeting families who typically face the highest childcare costs.
The Minister continued “When I took up post as Education Minister, I pledged as a priority to make childcare more affordable for working families. This scheme is now delivering for those hard-working families across Northern Ireland and they are starting to feel the direct benefit in their pockets. This scheme is an outstanding success and in September alone has saved parents almost £1m on their childcare bills, with an additional estimated £1.1m in savings through Tax-Free Childcare.
"The combined effect of both these schemes is that Northern Ireland working parents have saved over £2m in September. I commend the exceptional level of commitment and cooperation shown by the sector to support the rollout in a very short period of time so that families would feel the benefit as quickly as possible.”
Commenting on continuing engagement with the sector, the Minister added: “I have spoken directly to providers delivering the scheme and to the parents using and benefiting from it and it has been extremely encouraging to hear the real difference the scheme is making to family life for local families."
In conclusion, the Minister said: "Registration for the Childcare Subsidy Scheme remains open and I encourage anyone who is eligible and has not yet signed up, to do so. For my part I will continue to work to deliver affordable childcare for parents throughout Northern Ireland."