Dear fellow citizens,
In recent days, there has been coverage of the new Kindergartens Needs Plan of the Rhein-Hunsrück District, which has raised questions about the future of the Kindergartens service in the city of Sankt Goar.
To put it in perspective: A building that modernizes, makes safe, and makes the daycare services in Sankt Goar future-proof is still eligible for funding.
It is true that the current needs plan states that the quantitative expansion of additional childcare places in the Rhein-Hunsrück district is currently largely complete. This means that the state will in the future provide only limited funding for the creation of additional places.
However, it is also true that this statement cannot be applied to the situation in St. Goar. According to the relevant competent authorities, the necessary construction of the daycare center to create a modern, demand-oriented and qualitatively up-to-date childcare offering remains fundamentally eligible for funding. The funding opportunities known for this purpose remain unchanged.
Therefore, it is important to properly interpret the statements made in the needs plan. The changing development of the child population does not indicate that the future of the daycare center in St. Goar is in jeopardy or that necessary investments cannot be supported in the future. Such a conclusion would be incorrect and understandably leads to uncertainty among many families.
For the city council and for me, the goal remains unchanged: We want to create a modern, safe and sustainable daycare center for the children of our city that meets the pedagogical requirements as well as the needs of families and the working conditions of the employees. We continue to pursue this goal with determination and in close coordination with the operator, the district administration, and the relevant professional authorities.
It is important to me that citizens are informed based on reliable information. I will of course keep you updated on the further developments and the next steps.
With kind regards,
Falko Hönisch
Mayor of the city Sankt Goar