§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spends on child care provision for the under-fives and out-of-school provision for children aged over five either directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, or indirectly through resources made available to local authorities or other organisations; what form of provision is thereby provided; how many places are thereby provided; and if he will make a statement on child care.
§ Mr. Ancram[holding answer 14 March 1994]: The Department of Health and Social Services directly assists the development of child care for pre-school and school age children by grant aiding regional voluntary child care organisations in Northern Ireland working in this field. In the current financial year over £235,000 has been provided in this way.
In 1991–92, the latest year for which the information is available, health and social services boards in Northern Ireland spent £1,598,000 on support for local day care projects, either through direct provision or in support of voluntary and community facilities. In that year, boards also spent £148,000 on family day centres, but these do not cater exclusively for parents with young children.
Details of the forms of provision and number of places available, as at 31 March 1993, are as follows:
Type Places available Pre-school playgroups 16,063 Day nurseries 2,036 Childminders 14,045 Total 32,144 Note: These figures are provisional.
The provision of day care services forms an integral part of the Department of Health and Social Service's preventive strategy in child care. Their development is a key part of the health and social services boards responsibilities under the current regional strategy 1992–97, in particular the identification of areas and groups with particular health and social needs and targeting services accordingly.