Parliament to back extra €290 million for daycare

All parties in the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, are delighted that the government has earmarked more money for childcare. The government can therefore count on broad parliamentary support for the increased child care allowance. This became apparent during the debate with Minister Lodewijk Asscher of Social Affairs on childcare on Wednesday, the Telegraaf reports. Earlier this week Asscher announced that an amount of 290 million euros has been made available for childcare. Part of this money is to ensure that every toddler in the Netherlands can attend a daycare at least three days a week. A large number of childcare institutions had to close over the past few years due to fewer children attending. According to Asscher, this is not only because of the significant cutbacks implemented under the Rutte I cabinet, but also because of the economic crisis. "People who lost their jobs took their children out of daycare", the Minister said. This money should put an end to that.