To ask the Minister for Communities whether he will expand the Women’s Centre Childcare Fund to better meet the needs of low-income families.

The Women’s Centre Childcare Fund (WCCF) is aimed at assisting low income families by providing two hour childcare sessions to parents who are in receipt of Income Support, or Unemployed and registered for JSA (income based), Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit and engaged in part-time (less than 16 hours per week) paid voluntary / community development work or engaged in vocational / educational development or training or engaged in personal development training. Should none of these apply, have within the previous 12 months, progressed into employment following a period of unemployment.

There are no plans to expand the current eligibility.