NI child care provision receives £1m boost

Grants totalling almost £1 million are to provide more than 1,500 childcare places in Northern Ireland.

The lottery's New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has allocated the money to 21 innovative projects across the province.

The announcement brings NOF investment in childcare projects in Northern Ireland to more than £5.1m - providing more than 9,000 childcare places.

The grant allocation particularly sets out to assist public sector staff who find it hard to find childcare provision especially in areas where none existed before.

Grants totalling £145,950 have been awarded to 10 health trusts in Belfast, Antrim, Tyrone, Armagh and Newry and the Southern Health and Social Services Board to create 284 after-school and holiday childcare places for staff. In addition a grant of £95,550 has been awarded to Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust in partnership with five other health trusts in Belfast, Enniskillen, Antrim and Tyrone to create 188 childcare places.

Project co-ordinator Jennifer Buchanan revealed that the cash boost would make a "significant contribution to childcare provision for many staff".

"There is such a shortage of staff at present within the health service and many trusts are competing to get good nurses back on the wards. Offering accessible childcare is a good way of encouraging people, particularly women, back into the work place," she said.

Briedge Gadd, the fund's board member in Northern Ireland said the grants would make a very special contribution at local community level.

"The projects will bring affordable, accessible and quality childcare right into the heart of communities across Northern Ireland. I am particularly pleased to see that all of the successful projects are community-led and will be providing services in areas of disadvantage or rural isolation."

Children with special needs across Northern Ireland are also set to benefit from a major cash boost. The Northern Ireland Childminding Association has received a cash boost of £90,000 to create 226 places with registered childminders across Greater Belfast, Craigavon, Derry, Bangor and Holywood.

Another beneficiary includes NIPPA, the early year' organisation which received a grant of £138,157 to create 323 childcare places in Newry, Armagh, Downpatrick, Belfast, Lisburn and Antrim. NIPPA’s chief executive Siobhan Fitzpatrick, said the money will be used to create childcare places for youngsters aged between 4 and 12. (AMcE)