Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Monday 8°CTuesday 6°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Derry CityEducationEnvironmentHealthNewsPolitics

McLaughlin writes to Department of Education over latest childcare statistics

written by cassoscoop November 17, 2022
ShareTweet

SDLP Derry Assembly representative Sinéad McLaughlin has expressed grave concerns following the OECD finding that the UK now has the most expensive childcare system in the developed world.

The Foyle MLA has written to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education to ask whether the lack of an Executive will delay the development of the new Childcare Strategy.

Said Ms McLaughlin: “It’s unfortunately not surprising that the UK has now officially claimed the top spot among developed countries for the most expensive childcare system.

“This is particularly concerning given the inaccessible nature of childcare in Northern Ireland, which lags behind Great Britain, suggesting that parents in the North will find it harder than almost any other developed nation to access childcare.

“We have known for some time that the lack of affordable childcare in Northern Ireland is pushing parents out of the workforce and holding our economy back, particularly in places like Derry where our levels of economic inactivity are the highest in the North.

“It’s also undoubtedly leading to worsening gender inequality, as it’s often women that are forced to bear the brunt of these economic consequences.

“In the cost-of-living emergency, both parents and providers are struggling to cope with steeply rising costs and it’s utterly shameful we don’t have an Executive to help the sector at this time.

“I believe that it is long past time for the North to finally get to grips with this crisis for families.

“We know that a Childcare Strategy was in development under the prior Executive and caretaker Education Minister and that costed options were to be presented to the Executive in March.

“Today, I have written to the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education to ask what impact the ongoing paralysis at Stormont is likely to have on the development of the Strategy.

“We cannot afford any further delays.

“Parents and providers deserve and need change now,” added Ms McLaughlin.

McLaughlin writes to Department of Education over latest childcare statistics was last modified: November 17th, 2022 by cassoscoop

Tags:
childcare strategyDerry CityFOYLE MLAMcLaughlin writes to Department of Education over latest childcare statisticsNORTH OF IRELANDPermanent Secretary of the Department of EducationSDLPSINEAD MCLAUGHLIN
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Police investigating sudden death in Derry

1 hour ago

Man arrested over Derry drink-drive scrambler incident

1 hour ago

Eastwood welcomes Irish Government’s renewed commitment to...

2 hours ago

New partnership between NWRC and Open University

2 hours ago

Jobs: E+I Engineering announce multiple vacancies

10 hours ago

McLaughlin expresses concern at Flybe administration

10 hours ago

O’Neill: Red alert for campaign Save Our...

10 hours ago

Eastwood to nominate Bloody Sunday families for...

1 day ago

Memorial service held for Bloody Sunday victims

1 day ago

Two police officers injured in border car...

1 day ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022
  • Glenapp Castle: Only a few miles from home but a million miles away

    December 20, 2021
  • DD Travel Feature: The Unsung Shores of Portugal

    November 12, 2021
  • Derry meeting led young Donegal woman to high profile murder

    July 16, 2021

Courts

  • Two men to stand trial for murder of journalist Lyra McKee

    January 23, 2023
  • Derry man jailed for six years over ‘heinous’ sex offences

    January 18, 2023
  • Top Derry officer not moved as punishment, says chief constable

    January 16, 2023
  • Man charged over police car ramming incident in Derry

    January 16, 2023
  • Former Derry police commander suing PSNI over ‘discrimination’

    January 12, 2023

Donegal Daily

  • 27 refugees moved to well-known Letterkenny premises

    4 hours ago
  • Dog beach ban to come into force this June

    5 hours ago
  • Killybegs Harbour nets €9M for overhaul

    11 hours ago

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
Derry Daily

© 2023 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


Back To Top

Posting....