By 2030, every child in Luxembourg should have access to a childcare structure – a goal set out in the coalition agreement of the CSV-DP government. But the reality for many families tells a different story.
A family in Clemency was recently informed that their five-year-old child would not be accepted into the local Maison Relais. Both parents work full time and are now urgently seeking an alternative, the father explained.
“We have no other option for our child during lunch breaks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, because there is no ‘Foyer du Jour’ – nothing at all in this area,” he said. “And in Clemency, school finishes at 11.25am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That means you drop your child off at 8am, and by 11.25am, school is over. This is impossible for parents who work full time.”
The father criticised the lack of flexibility from both the local commune and the Maison Relais: “We’ve also heard that some parents received a spot even though one of them only works part time. That raises the question of whether any criteria even exist.”
Such criteria do exist – four priority criteria, according to the municipality of Käerjeng. These are intended to ensure that those most in need are prioritised for available spots. However, Käerjeng mayor Michel Wolter noted in a written statement that no more children can be taken in than there are places available.
Wolter added that the situation could still change significantly by 15 September, with places potentially opening up. A new Maison Relais recently opened in Käerjeng, offering space for up to 200 children. An extension of the Maison Relais in Clemency is also underway, due to be completed by the 2026 school year. In the meantime, the school’s former infirmary has been repurposed to accommodate an additional 20 children as of the 2025/26 schoolyear, pending approval from the relevant ministry.
Clemency is just one of several affected areas. Schifflange, Mersch, and Junglinster are also experiencing long waiting lists for Maison Relais places. However, Gilles Dahmen from the Ministry of Education said the issue cannot be described as a general shortage across the country.
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“On a national level, supply actually exceeds demand,” Dahmen said. “But of course, there are still local or regional areas where demand is higher than the available offer. In these cases, it is up to us – and the municipalities – to provide financing mechanisms so they can quickly create more capacity and ensure parents, and especially children, benefit.”
A collective effort is needed from the state, municipalities, and both approved and commercial operators, Dahmen added. There has been ongoing dialogue for years, and work is currently underway on a reform of the childcare service voucher (Chèque Service), which is expected to be presented this autumn, according to the Ministry of Education.
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