Institutional Childcare Facilities in Lower Austria - Sponsor Funding

Within the framework of the "Institutional Childcare Facilities in Lower Austria – Provider Funding," the State of Lower Austria, together with the municipalities, systematically supports the operation of after-school care groups. The goal is to ensure reliable afternoon care in accordance with the Lower Austrian Compulsory School Act 2018 (§ 89 ff.) for working parents and to promote the expansion of such services. Flat-rate subsidies amounting to €7,473 per after-school care group and school year are granted, calibrated to the actual opening hours – typically 1,320 hours per school year. Applications can be submitted continuously and retroactively for up to six months, ensuring flexible fund utilization. The funds are disbursed semi-annually and cover personnel and material expenses, training and education costs, expenses for monitoring and supervision, as well as infrastructure costs.

Eligible applicants are providers of institutional childcare facilities in Lower Austria who can demonstrate a positive needs assessment, possess a valid approval notice, and offer care services for working parents. For the application, in addition to the application form from the Education Directorate for Lower Austria, the funding commitment from the host municipality, the needs assessment, and the approval notice for the operational purpose must be submitted. Legal provisions (§ 89 ff. Lower Austrian Compulsory School Act) form the basis for fund utilization, and random checks of opening hours, child attendance lists, and personnel cost documentation ensure transparent processing. This funding enables the local expansion of reliable afternoon care and the long-term integration of qualified professionals to adequately meet the increasing demand for care in Lower Austria.