The report, by Employers for Childcare, argues that childcare in the province is behind that of England, Wales and Scotland, and recommends that it learn from their childcare strategies and build on them to create a 'robust and coherent' integrated childcare strategy of its own.
The authors say that the implementation of an up-to-date childcare strategy would also allow the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver on its statutory duty to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
Nora Smith, policy and information manager with Employers for Childcare, said, 'We are aware that childcare places and information services are so much more advanced in England, Scotland and Wales than in Northern Ireland.
The purpose of the comparative analysis was to look further into why Northern Ireland lags behind the rest of the UK.'
The recommendation is one of six outlined in Sizing Up, a comparative study of childcare policy within the four regions of the UK, which was published last week.
Other suggestions include introducing statutory duties to address childcare challenges in the region, and creating a department within the Northern Ireland Executive with sole responsibility for childcare, similar to the Department of Education.
Ms Smith added, 'Nobody is solely responsible for childcare services in Northern Ireland, and we need clear lines of responsibility. There is also no statutory provision within Northern Ireland to ensure adequate provision and information services. This has meant for many parents that work is not a feasible option, which is why stronger investment in childcare services is needed.'
