Independent site. Not an official website of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Find out more
Asked by Kate

AQW 44842/22-27 Written question to the Minister for the Economy

To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any discussions she has had with Student Finance NI about expanding the criteria for accessing the childcare grant to include PhD students.

Asked by Kate Nicholl MLA on 27 April 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
27 April 2026
Answer due by
13 May 2026
Answered
11 May 202614 days after tabling
Department
Department for the Economy
Priority question
No

Answer

Such expansion of the criteria would require policy and legislative change, as well as engagement with Student Finance NI.

Expanding Childcare Grant to PhD students will be considered within the scope of the future Review of Higher Education Funding.

Official sources

  • AQW 53161/22-27To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department holds any data on the number of Northern Ireland domiciled students, who gradu…
  • AQW 53160/22-27To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail when a decision will be made in relation to restarting work on the development of the Caree…
  • AQW 53028/22-27To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any consideration she is giving to working with higher and further education institutions t…
  • AQW 53027/22-27To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the number of Great Britain domiciled students that are currently enrolled in higher educat…
  • AQW 53026/22-27To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to the Student mobility into and out of Northern Ireland: What brain drain report, to detai…