Derry parents encouraged to attend online childcare information session

SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid has encouraged parents to attend an upcoming online information session on the government financial assistance that is available with the costs of childcare.

The session has been organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council and will be delivered by Family Support NI and Employers for Childcare. It follows a recent motion, introduced by Cllr. McDaid, which called on Council to organise an information session to make more parents aware of the existing government financial support pertaining to the costs of childcare.

Cllr. McDaid said: “Too often, parents are not made aware of the support that is available when it comes to the costs of childcare which are placing a huge burden on families across Derry and the rest of the North. Although the existing support is limited and will not bring down costs for families as much as we would like, I know first-hand how every little helps, especially given how stretched family budgets are in the current climate.

“Parents are often kept in the dark or forced to rely on word-of-mouth to hear about the schemes that could make a difference to their childcare costs.

"In 2021, a survey by Employers for Childcare found that almost a third of families using childcare claim no financial support, despite the fact that most working parents are eligible and a recent Department of Education study revealed that 54% of parents in the Western Trust said that there was not enough information about childcare provision in the local area. We clearly need to do a much better job of advertising the help that is out there.

“It is so important that parents do not rule themselves out of support before exploring whether some might be available. I would encourage anyone who may be struggling with the costs of childcare to attend this session online, hear about the support that is currently available and ask any questions that may be on their mind.

“Although the delivery of the Childcare Strategy is a matter for Stormont and a restored Executive, I am determined to take practical action to do everything that I can at Council level to help parents with these huge costs.”