To ask the Minister of Education (i) for an update on his Department's proposed Pathways Fund from April 2016; (ii) what correspondence he has had with Early Years funded groups regarding the proposed Pathways Fund; and (iii) whether the fund will provide services for children up to three years of age.

The Pathway Fund will be introduced from April 2016. Procurement for the Fund Administrator is underway with Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) DFP, which is a Centre of Procurement Expertise (CoPE).

The aim is to engage the Fund Administrator from December 2015 to allow sufficient time for development of the Fund so that it becomes fully operational with awards made from 1 April 2016. This will allow for the seamless closure of the Early Years Fund in its current form.

In order that the inequity of the current Early Years Fund is not perpetuated, the Pathway Fund will be open to all providers of Early Years education (aged 0-4) to apply.

The criteria for funding are currently being developed and they will align with DE’s strategic objectives, with the aim of ensuring that high quality provision can be supported in areas of greater disadvantage.

Officials wrote to current Early Years Fund recipients in July 2015 to advise them of the creation of the Pathway Fund.