The North Down MLA said: “We have been approached by providers who have informed us that nearly 50 institutions receiving Bright Start funding could be forced to close under proposals to end funding at the end of June, which would have a devastating impact on children and parents.
“Bright Start is a major childcare program across Northern Ireland. Parents, childcare providers and early childhood stakeholders are being placed in a precarious situation and facing an uncertain future because of these proposed cuts, which is a totally unacceptable situation.
“It has been clear for years that there has not been enough investment in childcare in Northern Ireland and we are lagging behind other parts of the UK. We urgently need to invest more in the sector, not less, to ensure families have access to the childcare they need.
“This position is only exacerbated by the continued lack of both a childcare strategy and an executive to implement it, something we in the Alliance party have repeatedly asked for. A childcare strategy is now decades overdue and without a minister taking decisive action, we risk falling even further behind and letting more people slip through the cracks.
“Many parents in Northern Ireland struggle to access or afford necessary childcare, which affects their ability to work. This has only been exacerbated by the crisis in the cost of living, which means that now more than ever we are in dire need of affordable childcare.
“The sector and households need clarity on the future of the programs and sustainable financing that will put the sector on a more stable footing going forward.
“Alliance believes that affordable childcare is a key economic driver and we urgently need a reinstated Executive to prioritize and fund a childcare strategy and ensure Bright Start funding is protected for years to come. “
