9,000 new free childcare places created - The Happy Kindergarten program is expected to reach 85,000 children later this year
7/09/2023
In the last two months, 9,000 new free places were created in crèches, thanks to the ordinance of July 5, which allowed to increase the maximum number of children per room and reconvert spaces previously dedicated to childhood.
The Happy Kindergarten program has a capacity to supply 85,000 children. A year ago, it covered about 40,000 children.
On a visit to the Centro Infantil António Marques da União Mutualista N.a Sr.a da Conceição, in Montijo, the Prime Minister, António Costa, and Ana Mendes Godinho, Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (MTSSS), made this Tuesday the balance of the Creche Feliz programme, which entered into force on 1 September 2022 for the social and solidarity sector and was extended to the private sector at the beginning of 2023.
"High demand shows how essential and decisive this measure is. The expansion of capacity has been a daily mission of everyone, of the Government, of the institutions of the social and solidarity sector and of the lucrative crèches", says Ana Mendes Godinho.
The Happy Kindergarten programme covers children born after 1 September 2021, in addition to children from families in the 1st and 2nd income brackets. By 2024, free crèches will be implemented in a phased manner, increasing annually one more year of crèche covered, up to all children attending crèche. A further 20,000 vacancies are expected to be available by 2026 thanks to RRP and PARES funding.
Source: www.portugal.gov.pt
