Sandra Overend MLA, Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, and Andy Allen MLA, for East Belfast, are very disappointed by the Executives lacklustre approach to childcare provision in Northern Ireland and calls on the Minister of Education to take immediate action on both the Childcare Strategy and a VAT exemption for approved home childcare services.

Mrs Overend said:

“At Education Committee yesterday we heard from Employers for Childcare about the bespoke childcare service they provide to families in Northern Ireland. For many families this service is the only one of its kind and without it they simply would not be able to work. Unfortunately, that service came under threat when they were informed by HMRC that their Approved Home Childcare service, unlike other childcare services, was not eligible for VAT exemption. Twenty-two staff have been made redundant and sadly, Employers for Childcare were left with no choice but to close the service on Friday 4 November, leaving many families with no childcare available to meet their needs.

“It seems that the Executive does not understand the link between flexible, affordable childcare provision and economic prosperity, diversity in the workplace and a range of other issues. It is extremely important to individual families who may have diverse working hours. For example, many of our public servants and healthcare workers work shifts late into the night or early in the morning when day care services cannot be accessed. Our childcare services simply do not reflect the needs of families in the twenty first century where two parents must go out to work just to make ends meet.

“This is, of course, part of a wider lack of focus on the part of the Executive. For months now the Minister of Education has been asked when the Childcare Strategy will be published and he has consistently stated he would present the Strategy to the Executive ‘in the coming months’. I am sorry to say that ‘in the coming months’ has lost all meaning when it is said in May and it is still being said in November. He has given no indication what stage of development the strategy is at. How can we effectively scrutinise the work of the Minister and more importantly how can we represent our constituents who are in crisis when the Minister constantly keeps us in the dark.”

Mr Allen said:

“I was contacted a month ago by a number of constituents who were having very specific issues with their childcare provision provided by Employers for Childcare, which for a variety of reasons had to be provided in the home. The one of a kind service being provided was no longer VAT exempt simply because Employers for Childcare was not in a position to register with the Trust.

“At the end of August after being initially told by the Health Department that they should be able to classify the group as a state-regulated body they were then advised that this would require a change in primary legislation that would take a minimum of 2 years. As far as I am concerned this should be a priority for the Department. I call on them to pursue this as a matter of urgency as well as developing an interim measure to ensure that childcare services such as this can be provided to those in need.

“After hearing the questions asked by the Education Minister’s DUP colleagues in Education Committee yesterday I can see very clearly that the DUP are completely out of touch with the breadth of childcare needs of families in Northern Ireland - a modern society which reflects a modern and diverse workforce.”