Motion: Childcare Provision

That this Council acknowledges the pressured important role of working families in the rebuilding and strengthening of our economy.

Council further acknowledges the crippling cost of childcare provision these families face, forcing some parents to relinquish employment due to costs.

Council supports building a bespoke childcare system for Northern Ireland, learning from the experiences of reform across these islands, and implementing the very best system to maximise the developmental opportunities for our children and benefits for our economy.

In recognition of this, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council calls on the Education Minister to bring forward a timeline of implementation of costed models for an affordable childcare scheme, as well as bring forward a timeline for delivery of the Childcare Strategy.