WEST Tyrone MLA Claire McGill said this week that she is encouraged that a committee set up to examine the problem of childcare access in rural areas will publish its findings in January.

The Rural Childcare Stakeholders Committee was set up by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle Gildernew to make recommendations on how to improve childcare provision in rural areas.

Sinn Fein's Claire McGill said: "The inability to secure access to childcare provision is a major problem for young families living in rural areas and I am encouraged to learn, in response to a written question I submitted to Michelle Gildernew, that the Committee will be bringing forward its findings in January.

"Given that membership of this committee is wide and includes childcare specialists, community groups, women's interests and government representatives, I am confident that this report will not only highlight the isolation experienced by youngsters in rural areas, due to the scarcity of childcare facilities such as crèche or after school facilities for older children, but will also contain firm proposals on how to such provision can be improved.

"Increased childcare provision is not only important in terms of enhancing the quality of life for young families in rural areas but for Sinn Fein it is also important in terms of addressing the issue of inequality of opportunity that currently exists on this issue between rural and urban communities," she added.