To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail his Department's (i) current; and (ii) planned commitment of (a) staff; and (b) resources to the Northern Ireland Childcare Affordability Scheme Task and Finish Group.

I am fully committed to work with my executive colleagues to deliver the Childcare Affordability Scheme. I have assigned two officials from my Department to support the work of the task and finish group. In addition Invest staff will be made available to assist with the design of a scheme. That is envisaged to be two people for two days per week.

A key part of my department’s contribution will be to consider how we can support the supply of skills into the sector. An early action has been to assess how the skills pathways support the sector.