The number of children in free government child care has reached just under 6,300, increasing by almost 2,900 every year, according to Education Minister Evarist Bartolo in reply to a Parliamentary Question by MP Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.

The child care service opened in April 2014 with 3,856 children. Since then, the number has accumulated and is now costing the government €13 million a year, according to the Ministry of Education.

Free child care was aimed at improving the female participation rate in the labour market. In 2014, this was 52.3 per cent but by the second quarter of 2017, it had risen to 56.9 per cent.

Government provides free childcare services to parents/guardians who work or are pursuing their education. The childcare service is either provided directly through government services or alternatively through registered childcare centres.

The scheme is for children from three months up to three years of age and entitlement is based on the number of hours worked. Centres are only allowed to charge a ‘reasonable’, one-off registration fee and for food services.

As of August 2017, there were just over 100 centres available through the scheme.

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