More than 2,100 taxpayers received tax credits of up to €1,000 each on their expenses to send children to childcare centres, the Finance Ministry said.

It said 913 benefitted in 2009 and 1,218 last year.

This was one of the Budget measures aimed at increasing the number of women returning to work while striking a work-family balance.

Mothers who continue working after having a baby also had their income tax waived for a year, a measure taken up by 3,020 women in 2010. The measures had so far cost more than €7 million, the ministry said. In 2008, childcare centres opened in Għargħur, Paola and Luqa.

The following year, centres were opened in Qawra and at the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology and in Cospicua, Siġġiewi and Pembroke last year.

Others will be opened this year in Floriana and ta Venera.

Malta Enterprise also opened a childcare centre at Bulebel industrial estate and is opening others in Ħal Far, Corradino, Mosta and Xewkija.

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