Expansion of child care in Raabs an der Thaya

In the municipality of Raabs an der Thaya there was a 1-group Lower Austrian state kindergarten at Kollmitzsteig 6, a 1-group Lower Austrian state kindergarten at Großau, Grenzgasse 5, a 1-group Lower Austrian state kindergarten at Puchheimstrasse 25 and a structurally provisional group in the middle school . In connection with the Lower Austrian childcare offensive, the need for a 5th kindergarten group was identified. The municipality has now built the 4th and 5th kindergarten groups at the kindergarten location at Puchheimstraße 25. In the course of the renovation work, the existing lack of space was also supplemented and accessibility was created. “Thank you to Mayor Franz Fischer and his political and administrative team for investing in the municipality as a strong partner in the state in expanding child care and thus actively supporting parents in Raabs an der Thaya in balancing family and work,” said families -State Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister. The state of Lower Austria supports the project with interest subsidies of over 430,000 euros.

As of January 1, 2023, the funding rate for construction investments by municipalities was increased from 27 percent to almost 50 percent. This is intended to support the municipalities responsible for childcare in carrying out their tasks. Since the start of the largest family policy initiative in Lower Austria, the increased funding rate as part of the “blue-yellow care offensive” has already been decided on for 442 groups and a project volume of 260 million euros. Since September 2024 – just around 20 months after the state parliament’s decision – 281 childcare groups – 249 new kindergarten groups and 32 day care facility groups – have already gone into operation throughout Lower Austria. Overall, as of September 2024, 93 percent of Lower Austrian municipalities have already created the possibility for the first two-year-olds to have places in a kindergarten or day care facility, although the Lower Austrian child education and care offensive runs until the end of 2027. There are currently over 75,000 children in Lower Austria in institutional childcare facilities. In total, around 615 new kindergarten groups and 250 new day care facility groups will be created by the end of 2027. The state and the municipalities are jointly investing around 750 million euros to expand childcare by 2027. In addition, the state is the only federal state to be the employer of all heads, all elementary educators, inclusive elementary educators and intercultural employees in Lower Austria state kindergartens and it bears the personnel costs amounting to several hundred million euros.

Further information: Office LR Teschl-Hofmeister, press spokesman Mag. (FH) Dieter Kraus, telephone 02742/9005-12655, email dieter.kraus@noel.gv.at