evidence: There is currently no Northern Ireland government-funded programme for childcare for those aged under 3. [...] In addition to wholly state-funded childcare provision, the British government also offers various UK-wide subsidised childcare schemes. People in Northern Ireland can apply to the tax-free childcare scheme, where the government gives a financial contribution to working parents towards childcare in a range of approved settings, such as with a registered childminder, play scheme, nursery, club, a school registered to provide childcare, or an approved home childcarer. For children under 12, parents and carers can set up an account to pay for approved childcare, and the government will top this up by 20%, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child, per year (£4,000 if the child has a disability). NI Direct explains that "for every £8.00 you pay in, the government adds £2.00 to your account". The eligibility criteria for this scheme are the same as for the "30 hours free childcare" scheme in England, applied to families in Northern Ireland. [...] In Northern Ireland, there is no government-funded childcare programme for children under 3 years of age. There is a Northern Ireland government-funded Pre-School Education Programme for 3–4 year olds, which covers at least 12.5 hours per week for all children, delivered at set times over a 38-week fixed term.