The government has launched a €500,000 aid scheme to encourage the opening of more childcare centres and improve standards.

The scheme was announced by Social Policy Minister John Dalli, who pointed out that in terms of the EU’s Lisbon Strategy, Malta is supposed to have childcare centre places for a third of children aged between 1-3 years. Malta only has half that number, he said, but the country is not in a situation where there is a shortage of places because many people still preferred to take their children to their extended family, rather than childcare centres.

There are currently 42 centres registered with the Department of Social Security and more applications are being vetted.

Mr Dalli said the government wanted to see the opening of more childcare centres so that it would be easier for parents, particularly mothers, to return to work, should they wish to.

The grant scheme is open to the private sector and NGOs. More details will be available on the ministry’s website.

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