HC Deb 09 December 1997 vol 302 c516W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of funding she will be allocating for child care centres in 1998–99; how many child care centres will be proposed for Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [18224]

Mr. Worthington

[holding answer 28 November 1997]We will announce shortly the level of funding in 1998–99 for a planned expansion of high-quality pre-school education in Northern Ireland. The number of centres to be funded will be determined at local level by Education and Library Boards in consultation with local pre-school Education Advisory Groups and may include settings in the private, voluntary and statutory sectors.

Additional funding for out-of-school activities will begin in April 1999, but during 1998–99 details of the arrangements will be made known and applications sought from providers.