Education Minister welcomes publication of Northern Ireland Childcare Survey Results

Date published: 12 May 2025

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) was commissioned by the Department of Education in 2024, to conduct a Childcare Survey of households, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

Paul Givan said: 

“I made a commitment to improve the evidence base on childcare usage and costs when I took up post.  It is essential that we have reliable and comprehensive data in order to develop evidence-based policy.  I therefore welcome the publication of the results which have the authority of Official Statistics.”

The Survey found that in 2024, 62% of children aged 0-4 were using some form of childcare with 43% using paid childcare. On average, children aged 0-4 in paid childcare, use 20 hours per week.  The most common source of childcare overall was grandparents or relatives, at 32%. After-school and breakfast clubs in schools, registered childminders and day nurseries were all in the top five most used types of provision.

For the children using paid childcare the median monthly payment was £225, increasing to £630 for children using more intensive provision (31-40 hours).  The vast majority of households (86%) said that the quality of their childcare was good.

The Minister concluded: 

“Over the coming weeks, we will be looking closely at the implications of the data for the development of the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy which I will bring to the Executive in the autumn.   The survey findings provide a valuable picture of childcare usage across the whole population which has not previously been available.  I plan to engage directly with stakeholders on the findings, later in the month.”