A total of 6,292 children are using the government’s free childcare service, according to data tabled in Parliament this week.

The figures were provided by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo in reply to a parliamentary question by PL MP Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.

The scheme whereby Government provides free childcare services to parents/guardians who are in employment or are pursuing their education, with the aim to help families achieve a work/life balance, was started in 2014. Free childcare was a PL electoral pledge.

Since the scheme began the number of children making use of it has doubled.

In 2014 there were 3,856 children in free childcare, which cost the government €5.2 million.

The following year the number of children in childcare had climbed to 5,852. Government expenditure on childcare that year doubled to €10 million.

The number had dipped slightly to 5,335 the following year, but costs rose to €12.6 million.

This year there were 6,292 children in childcare and, between 1 January and 9 November the government had spent €13 million on free childcare.