The Children and Families Agency is planning to assist child-rearing facilities in areas with declining birth rates by transforming them into multipurpose centers, according to officials. The goal is to sustain these facilities, which are currently operating well below capacity, by merging them with after-school childcare centers and child-rearing counseling counters. Starting next fiscal year, the agency intends to provide subsidies to local governments involved in this initiative.
As of April 1st, the percentage of users compared to the quota at child-rearing facilities was 91.6% in urban areas across 334 local governments. However, in underpopulated areas facing population declines and financial difficulties, this figure dropped significantly to 76.2% across 713 local governments.
In underpopulated regions where child-rearing facilities are expected to further decrease and consolidate, it becomes increasingly challenging for parents without access to childcare options while they work. This situation may lead younger individuals to leave these areas, exacerbating population decline.
To address this issue, some local governments have already started repurposing vacant nursery school spaces for after-school childcare services and child-rearing counseling counters.
The agency’s plan aims not only at maintaining existing child-rearing facilities but also giving them additional functions beyond nursing services. This initiative targets nurseries, certified children centers, and small-scale nurseries located in underpopulated regions where user numbers are not projected to increase significantly but are considered crucial for the area’s development.
Each local government can receive up to ¥10 million in subsidies from the agency for this purpose. Additionally, those affected by the major earthquake on New Year’s Day will receive an extra ¥5 million in subsidies if they are located in the northern part of the Noto Peninsula.
These subsidies will cover personnel expenses as well as other costs necessary for transforming existing facilities into multipurpose centers that can cater not only to children but also assist elderly residents with tasks like shopping or providing meals through cafeterias. However, newly constructed facilities will not be eligible for these subsidies.
