To ask the Minister for the Economy to (i) detail how he is working with the Minister of Education to ensure pre-school childcare places for middle-income working parents; and (ii) for his assessment of how the current pre-school childcare place allocation rules are affecting the ability of parents to work.

The issue of pre-school places and how they are allocated is not within my remit. The broader issue of accessible and affordable childcare is recognised as key to enabling parents to develop their skills and participate in the workforce and this was highlighted during the recent consultation on the draft Skills Strategy. The Department of Education is leading on the work to develop an Executive Childcare Strategy and my officials are participating on the Strategy Programme Board.