Lawmakers on Thursday agreed to support the creation of more day care services for children by increasing funding to SFr120 million ($119.8 million).

The House of Representatives had already approved additional funding. The Senate vote now sends the bill back to the House where lawmakers will have to settle some minor discrepancies.

The Swiss cabinet had originally proposed a budget of SFr80 million for a programme that would benefit only the creation of new services. But the Senate voted 34-2 to extend funding to 2015 to include support for existing centres that want to expand by adding at least ten places.

The government has supported the creation of day care centres since a funding programme began in 2003. So far 25,000 new slots for children have been generated. Another 8,000 new slots should be created by January 2011, when the original funding package was scheduled to end.

But another 176 projects, which would add a further 3,700 places for children, are on a waiting list.

Senators said this funding package should be the last. But the government and the House want to leave this point open.

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