To ask the Minister of Education whether he plans to provide an uplift in Pathway Funding to reflect rising costs and staff wage pressures.

The Pathway Fund provides a contribution to a setting towards the overall cost of delivering an Early Years project.

2024-25 represents year two of a two-year funding cycle. Funding made available through the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy package, aimed at stabilising the Early Years sector, has enabled additional settings to receive Pathway funding in 2024-25.

I have also asked my officials to explore the potential of providing an uplift to current Pathway awards in 2024-25 to further assist with stabilisation, in light of ongoing project cost increases.