The availability and cost of childcare has become a significant issue for many parents and a political priority.
The number of registered childminders in Northern Ireland has halved over the past two decades while demand for childcare has risen.But the Education Minister, Paul Givan, has previously said thatParents in Northern Ireland do not get free childcare hours,Mr Givan is planning to bring a subsidy scheme for childcare to the executive later on Thursday.
Most registered childminders work from their own home and look after up a maximum of six children a day. Ms Lewsley-Mooney said the time it takes for a childminder to be vetted by social services had increased significantly She warned that "due to the demand of affordable childcare, there continues to be the growth and the competition from unregistered and unregulated childminders."
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