Summer vacation is just around the corner. However, many parents also need care for their little ones during the school-free periods. Now another 15 million euros must flow from the municipal investment program for schools and kindergartens and to secure care in the summer.
The funding should not be confused with the 4.5 billion from the government package for childcare. The federal government is getting the 15 million euros on top of that, as it were, from funds from the municipalities that are responsible for part of the school system. They apply to all primary education offers, but also to school and after-school care for school-going children. In addition, 250 million euros have been reserved for the municipalities for the construction, expansion, maintenance and renovation of nursery schools and schools, originating from the municipal investment programme. Half of this is intended for sustainable measures, the rest for maintenance.
“For working parents, childcare during the holidays is often a major problem. To create the best possible conditions, we are making significantly more money available to the communities,” Minister Susanne Raab told the “Krone”. This mainly concerns the ongoing business operations and the remuneration of the necessary staff, for example in after-school care centers. Inflation also affects educational institutions, which must be compensated with the 15 million euros.
Many parents pay for private childcare
If the public supply is sufficient, this can also prevent parents from having to go to private providers. According to the AK research, an average of 415 euros per child is charged for childcare during the holidays. A small market niche has formed here (youth camps, etc.). A quarter of parents are switching to working from home to care for their children. Although just over half say summer care is easy for them, just under 40 percent find it difficult.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
