Lower Austria nears end of childcare expansion

Lower Austria has approved more than 600 new kindergarten groups since 2022 as it approaches the final stage of a childcare expansion, ORF reported. The ÖVP’s state party said on Wednesday that the province was leading Austria in childcare provision.

Last year, half of all newly opened kindergarten groups across Austria were in Lower Austria, the ÖVP said. It also said 85 percent of two-year-olds in the province were now in childcare, a higher share than in any other Austrian state.

The number of childcare places compatible with parents working full time has also risen. Among children aged up to two, the share of places meeting this standard increased from 31.3 percent in 2018 to 62.6 percent. For children aged three to five, it rose from 20 percent to 55.4 percent. Vienna and Burgenland still have higher shares.

ÖVP state party manager Matthias Zauner said the expansion was being carried out according to demand, adding that higher percentages in other states did not necessarily mean there was similar demand in Lower Austria.

ÖVP family spokesperson Doris Schmidl said practical suitability mattered as well as the figures. She said childcare facilities often open before their scheduled hours and close earlier when no children are registered.

Since 2022, childcare projects costing about 372 million euros have been approved, according to the ÖVP. The province is contributing 186 million euros. New projects can be approved through the province’s school and kindergarten fund until the end of 2027.