"The budget talks and especially the negotiations in the coming weeks will show that," she answered in the APA interview when asked if such a measure could be ruled out. In family policy, the new minister wants to prioritize freedom of choice.

Black-Green Government Decided on Automatic Valorization of Family Benefits

In general, it is about "arriving more efficiently with our financial support" for families, said Plakolm. The automatic adjustment of family and social benefits to inflation was only decided by the previous black-green government. The family benefits are currently certainly well-targeted, and Austria has a "globally envied system of various supports."

Next week, she will speak with Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) about the budget, said Plakolm. How much she has to save in her department, which also includes EU, integration, and youth, is not yet fixed. She has already set up a task force to examine the receipt of family benefits by Ukrainian refugees - as it was noticed that even people who do not come from war zones and neither speak Russian nor Ukrainian are receiving them.

"Home Bonus": "FPÖ Never Proposed Such a Suggestion"

In family policy, Plakolm wants to promote the freedom of choice for parents: Whether both parents return to work after the birth or one parent stays home longer to care for the children - "Everything has a place in my world." Would she have implemented a "home bonus," a bonus for parents who care for their children at home, as a family minister in an FPÖ-ÖVP government? "The FPÖ never proposed such a suggestion," said Plakolm. However, it is necessary to ensure sufficient childcare places and the financial possibility for one parent to stay home longer if they wish.

The ÖVP model of grandparental leave, advocated by former Family Minister Susanne Raab, did not make it into the government program. For her successor, the measure would be a "building block" for better compatibility of family and work. Her full attention, however, is on the government program, said Plakolm. What is indeed found there is a strengthening of fathers' participation in parental leave - experts are to be consulted for this. "Unfortunately, it doesn't work without incentives," said the minister, who did not want to name any specific ideas yet.

Who is Responsible for Child Basic Security?

There was recently disagreement about the responsibility for the planned child basic security - Plakolm and Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) each saw the issue with the other. First, it must be clarified whether child basic security is a social benefit for socially weaker families or generally a family benefit. "In my view, child basic security is a social benefit because we want to help families in a targeted way who need support."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.