Carinthia leaves more than half of federal kindergarten funds unused

Carinthia has claimed less than half of the federal funding available for expanding kindergartens and providing language support, ORF reported, citing a response from the education department to a parliamentary inquiry by the Greens.

The state most recently received six million euros in federal funding for kindergarten expansion, equivalent to 43.8 percent of the total amount available. More than half of the funding remained unused. In the previous years, Carinthia claimed 45 percent and 41 percent of the available funds.

State cites municipalities’ financial difficulties

Education official Peter Reichmann of the Social Democratic Party said municipalities were struggling financially. Municipalities must contribute to the expansion of childcare places to receive the subsidies, but often cannot afford the required co-financing.

The state has changed its subsidy rules to make co-financing easier, Reichmann said. The first positive signs were visible, and the goal was to claim the available funds by the end of 2027.

Language support funds fully claimed

Vorarlberg and Lower Austria have already claimed almost all of the federal funding available to them. Only Burgenland and Styria ranked below Carinthia, each claiming about a quarter of the total amount.

Carinthia did, however, claim almost all of its federal funds for compulsory kindergarten attendance and language support.

Political calls for direct funding

Carinthia’s Freedom Party parliamentary group leader, Erwin Angerer, called for a fundamental reorganisation of responsibilities. He said municipalities should be responsible for childcare and receive the necessary funding directly and permanently from the federal government.

Gerhard Köfer, leader of Team Carinthia, called for earmarked direct aid. Unused federal kindergarten subsidies should be paid directly to municipalities for designated purposes and without a co-financing requirement, he said. Municipalities were under severe pressure from rising costs and higher legal requirements in childcare.