To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the number of families in East Londonderry that have benefited from the School Age Childcare Grant Scheme; and (ii) when the next round of awards will be open for application.

Since its launch in 2014, the School Age Childcare Grant Scheme has awarded funding to five settings in the East Londonderry constituency area. This support has created or sustained 120 school age childcare places.

It is likely that the majority of these places will be used by families living in the East Londonderry constituency. However, some of the 120 places will probably be used by families living outside the constituency just as some families living in the constituency may use SAC Grant Scheme supported childcare services located elsewhere.

A third call for applications to the School Age Childcare Grant Scheme closed on 29 January 2016; all applications received are currently being assessed. The full, final Childcare Strategy is currently being finalised. When launched later this year, we expect it to offer further funding opportunities for current and prospective childcare providers.