States leave millions in federal kindergarten funds unused
Sunday 6th September 2026 on 16:45 in
Austria
Austria’s states left tens of millions of euros in federal funding for expanding childcare unused, according to a response from the Education Ministry to a request from the Greens, reported by ORF. In the state of Burgenland, more than 63 percent of the funds available to it were not spent.
From the 2022-23 to the 2026-27 kindergarten years, the states can claim earmarked grants for the compulsory kindergarten year for five-year-olds, as well as for additional places, improved staff-to-child ratios, longer opening hours and language support.
In the last year for which figures were available, 2024-25, 80.5 million euros was available for compulsory attendance and 191.5 million euros for expansion and language support. At least 19 percent of the latter amount was earmarked for language support. The states used 79.6 million euros and 123.7 million euros respectively.
There were significant differences between the states, particularly in expansion funding. Styria left almost 76 percent of its available funds unused, followed by Burgenland at just over 63 percent and Carinthia at 56 percent.
Vorarlberg and Lower Austria used all or almost all of their funds. Vienna and Upper Austria also used a large share. For compulsory kindergarten attendance, only Tyrol and Salzburg left a significant portion of the available funding unused.
Christoph Zarits, the Austrian People’s Party’s Burgenland leader, called for clarification from Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil of the Social Democratic Party. Every available euro should reach children in future, Zarits said. Municipalities and families needed better staff-to-child ratios, longer opening hours and additional kindergarten places.
Burgenland state councillor Daniela Winkler of the Social Democratic Party said the state was a nationwide leader in childcare. It offered free year-round childcare, a comprehensive network, demand-based opening hours and a place for every child without waiting lists, she said.
Burgenland had long pointed to an imbalance in federal funding, Winkler said. Existing criteria favoured further expansion and did not adequately take into account high standards already achieved. States that invested early, created childcare places and built comprehensive structures could naturally claim less funding for later expansion, she said.