To ask the Minister of Education whether the Bookstart Baby fund will be reinstated.

Due to significant budgetary pressures in 2023/24, the Department took the difficult decision not to continue funding the Bookstart Baby Programme beyond March 2023. Any decision to reinstate funding in 2024/25 will be made in the context of my Department’s 2024/25 allocation and wider financial pressures.

I recognise the importance of encouraging parents to read with their children from birth. I also acknowledge the positive impact the programme had in promoting an early love of reading, developing early communication skills and supporting attachment between children and their parents. The importance of reading to young children continues to be promoted by my Department through the ‘Big Bedtime Read’ within the Getting Ready to Learn Programme.