“One of the most important elements of Government policy is to contribute to the greatest possible extent to improving the living conditions of families, and to the costs and expenses of having and raising children”, Minister of Finance Mihály Varga highlighted at the announcement of the Ministry’s latest kindergarten development tender.
At a joint press conference with Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs Katalin Novák, the Minister told reporters: the programme, which is being launched with a budget of 4.5 billion forints (EUR 14 million), provides funding for the establishment of local government kindergartens and mini day nurseries, as well as for increasing capacities.
“2018 is the year of families in Hungary, because based on the country’s good economic performance more than ever before can be spent on supporting the raising if children”, Mr Varga emphasised. “While in 2010 the budget for this purpose was 980 billion forints (EUR 3bn), by 2018 this figure increased to some 2000 billion forints (EUR 6.2bn)”, he added. “The development of childcare facilities is based on the Government’s fundamental principle according to which parents raising children must be able to choose family and employment simultaneously”, the Minister pointed out. “Thanks to the measures introduced so far, the employment rate for women has already increased to 62 percent from 50 percent in 2010, equalling the EU average”, he highlighted. The Minister said it was excellent news that the level of employment for women raising small children has also been successfully increased to a significant extent.
The “Kindergarten Development Programme” was officially announced today, and applications may be submitted no later than 18 March 2019. It is worthwhile for local governments to make use of this opportunity as early as possible, however, because a decision on application that arrive before 30 November this year can already be expected in February of net year, it was explained at the press conference.
Mayor of Budapest’s 2nd District Zsolt Láng also took part in the press conference, explaining that the Government’s latest tender represents an important opportunity for local governments. “The number of kindergarten places in the 2nd district has doubled over the past ten years, which is in harmony with the continuous improvement in the conditions for raising children”, he highlighted.
(Ministry of Finance)
