Radikale Venstre proposed at the budget negotiations in 2023 that an experiment with subsidies for home care of one’s own children be introduced.
We proposed this because we are supporters of giving citizens the greatest possible degrees of freedom in their family life.
The proposal was adopted, and the scheme has now been running for so long that we can state that it has been a success.
Many parents are in a family situation where they want to look following their own young children at home instead of using a public childcare service. 127 families have currently chosen to use the scheme, and in my opinion there is only good to say regarding that.
The legislation lays down some good frameworks for the scheme.
This includes, among other things, that applicants for grants must not simultaneously receive transfer income or have work income and that the applicant must have sufficient knowledge of Danish. A refusal must also be granted if the municipality deems it necessary for a child to be enrolled in a day care or private care, due to the child’s developmental needs or the family situation.
The scheme started on 1 August 2023 and in Aalborg Municipality we have given a subsidy of 73 per cent of the net cost of a day care place. In this way, the scheme has also provided a profit of DKK 1 million. DKK for the municipality.
In the Budget agreement, it was a 2-year trial scheme which was to be evaluated in the first half of 2025. In practice, however, this timetable does not work because the families who are considering using the scheme following 1 August 2024 will not be able to have certainty that, that the scheme can be used in full for the possible 12 months – unless the city council decides to continue the scheme before then.
It is therefore timely to decide now to make the arrangement permanent. After having contact with other political parties in the city council, I am convinced that it will happen at the city council meeting in April.
This is really good news for families with children in Aalborg Municipality.
In the city council, we must be good at thinking regarding flexibility in the solutions.
As people, we are very different, and can be in very different family situations.
It is therefore good that there is a prospect of a majority in the city council, which will increase the freedom for families. This will happen when we decide in April to make access to home care permanent.
2024-03-15 19:48:59
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