Northern Ireland
Childcare provision
Key points
- There is substantial variation in the availability of childcare places across Northern Ireland, from 350 places per 1,000 children under five in Ards and North Down, to 70 places in Newry and Mourne. Foyle, an area which includes Derry, Limavady and two-thirds of Strabane, has around 130 places. Whilst South and East Belfast has 330 places, North and West Belfast has just 190.
- 16% of Child Tax Credit recipients in Northern Ireland are receiving tax credits to cover the cost of childcare. Across the regions of Great Britain, this proportion ranges from 15% in Wales to 23% in the North West of England.
- The average amount received in Northern Ireland for childcare support is £74 a week. Among the regions of Great Britain, only the figure for London is higher.
Graph 1: By LA
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Graph 2: Compared to GB
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Definitions and data sources
Getting people into work is key to the UK government's strategy to reducing poverty. One important aspect of this is getting parents (back) into paid work following the birth of a child. In turn, the availability and affordability of childcare is seen as the key to achieving this.
The first graph shows how the number of childcare and nursery places per 1,000 children under 5 varies across the health care trusts in Northern Ireland.
The data source for the first graph is the DHSSPS Children Order Statistical Bulletin and the data is for 31st March 2007. The numbers have been translated into rates using 2001 Census population data (the latest available by health care trust).
The second graph shows both the proportion of child tax credit recipients who also receive the childcare element of the tax credit and, for these people, the average weekly amount that they receive. For both statistics, it compares the figures in Northern Ireland with those in the regions of Great Britain,
The data source for the second graph is HM Revenue and Customs Working Tax Credits statistics and the data is for April 2008.
Overall adequacy of the indicator: medium. Both graphs say something about variations in childcare provision but only tell a partial story.