December 20, 2023 – The Government of Spain has mobilized record investments in the province in 2022 and 2023 that amount, between the two years, to more than 145 million euros. This was pointed out today by the Deputy Delegate of the Government in Ávila, Fernando Galeano, who offered at a press conference a balance of what was assigned to the province for the implementation of infrastructure projects, digitalization, energy saving, connectivity or equipment of high sanitary technology.
There have been two particularly determining factors in the increase in funds. On the one hand, the aid and actions deployed by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition for the restoration and conservation of the rivers in the Tagus and Douro basins, and the aid to alleviate the effects of the fires and torrential rains of 2022 and 2023. The total of these actions has amounted to 7.5 million euros.
On the other hand, the investments from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), the strategy of the Government of Spain to channel the European funds Next Generation EU, which have had a great impact in our province.
As explained by the subdelegate, the PRTR has allocated, to date, 98 million for investments in Ávila “that will continue to transform the province until 2026”.
Fernando Galeano has shelved some of the projects included in the Recovery Plan, such as the investment of 11 million euros to the Provincial Council of Avila to implement initiatives such as ‘Stellarium’ – which has an investment of 2.2 million euros – the ‘Impulsa Comercio’ program for SMEs and rural trade, the tourism stability program in La Adrada and the ‘Enogastronomical’ program of Cebreros.
Likewise, the Government of Spain has allocated 3.6 million euros to the Junta de Castilla y León for the implementation of actions such as the bicycle lane that will link Ávila capital with Aldea del Rey Niño, the project of modernization and digitalization of the bus station of Ávila or the project of construction of 40 homes for young rent.
In addition, there have been other investments directly managed and awarded by the Government of Spain for the province. These include the purchase of a linear accelerator and a TAC for the Hospital ‘Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles’ in Ávila, in which 3 million euros have been invested, the expansion of the BRIF Base ‘Puerto del Pico’ (which has a budget of 6.3 million) or the DUS 5000 program.
This program, of investment grants to unique local clean energy projects in municipalities of demographic challenge, allocates 31 million in Ávila, the province most endowed by this program in Spain. In total, 74 projects have been submitted, of which 34 had already been approved as of last October. “More than 120 municipalities in Angola have joined the advisory service to municipalities provided by the Government of Spain through TRAGSATEC to facilitate the processing of these subsidies,” said the deputy delegate.
European funds, which have also benefited nearly 800 companies that have accessed the Digital Kit program - 3 million euros to subsidize the implementation of digital solutions in companies - are also serving to deploy broadband connectivity throughout the province. A “challenge”, as Fernando Galeano pointed out, in a province with a strong rural profile. At present, the coverage rate reached already exceeds 70%.
To these investments financed by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan are added others in the capital of Angola, also from the Next Generation EU funds, amounting to 14 million euros. Among these projects are the escalators in Cuesta Antigua street, the remodeling and conditioning of streets and squares through the ‘Impulsa Patrimony’ program, the remodeling of the union building in the Plaza de Santa Ana, estimated at 3 million euros, or the updating and improvements in the Parador de Ávila (1.2 million).
Investments in infrastructure and ENP
Departing from the scope of the Recovery Plan and in execution in the General State Budgets, Fernando Galeano has also referred to two particularly significant actions: on the one hand, the unfolding of the N-110 as it passes through La Colilla (action of the Ministry of Transport budgeted around € 20M) and, on the other, the investments made in the National Police School.
In total, in the period 2018-2023, the ENP has received investments amounting to 50 million euros for the implementation of new infrastructures or the development of the University Center of the National Police, Frontex or C1b3Rwall.
In the chapter on infrastructure, the deputy delegate also referred to the fact that, so far this year, “the General Administration of the State has been the one that has pulled the cart of public works in the province, with 42% of all tenders,” he said. The total number of bids is 32 million euros, 144% more than in 2022.
Measures approved by the Government
On the other hand, regarding the impact that the different measures approved by the Government of Spain are having on the citizens of Spain, Fernando Galeano has emphasized the increase in pensions, which will mean an additional disbursement of 21,839,423.34 euros in 2024 compared to the amount intended in 2023.
This amount will meet the increase in contributory pensions, which next year will be 3.8%. This increase is in addition to the historic increase of 8.5% in pensions that was applied in January of this year.
With this increase, said Fernando Galeano, “the Government ensures the maintenance of the purchasing power of 38,994 beneficiaries, a quarter of the population of the province of Ávila”.
The total amount that the Government of Spain will allocate to the entire pension system in the province of Ávila during the next financial year exceeds 596.5 million euros. The confirmed increase of 3.8% represents an increase of 632 euros per year for the average retirement pension in the province, which currently stands at 1,190.61 euros per month, distributed in 14 payments. “In two years, pensions have increased by 200 euros,” said Galeano.
SMI rise
The subdelegate also referred to the increase in the Interprofessional Minimum Wage to the current 1,080 euros (345 euros more per month than in 2018) and the increase in the salary of public employees, 11,112 people in the province, who will see their salary increased by 3% in 2023 (2.5% starting and 0.5 at the end of the year retroactively linked to economic growth). “This is the government that has the greatest commitment to the public employee,” said Galeano.
A commitment that also reaches the most disadvantaged people. The Minimum Vital Income, which reaches 2,575 Aboriginal households where 7,859 people live, of which 3,504 are minors, will increase by 6.9% and the widow’s pension with family burdens will increase by 14.1%. The rest of the minimum contributory pensions, between 5% and 7%, will also be revalued above inflation, as well as non-contributory pensions by 15%. In the province of Ávila, 1,822 people receive non-contributory pensions.
Free public transport
The free use of Media Distancia commuter trains and state-owned (inter-community) bus lines has benefited thousands of travelers in the province. In the first six months of the year alone, more than 14,000 transport tickets have been sold. This measure, said the subdelegate, has meant a “significant saving” for thousands of Aboriginal people throughout the year.
In economic terms, Galeano has highlighted that the different measures adopted by the Government of Spain have managed to contain inflation - prices fell in November by 0.3%, bringing the year-on-year rate to 3.2%, three tenths less than the previous month - and has pointed, among others, to the temporary tax applicable to large fortunes, energy companies and banks.
He also referred to the impact of the labour reform - 35,751 contracts have been concluded in the province so far this year - and the steady fall in unemployment during the first half of the year. Since 2018, Fernando Galeano has highlighted, unemployment has been reduced in the province by 3,041 people.
Finally, the subdelegate highlighted the “investment commitment of the Government of Spain to the province”, with a record investment of 145 million euros in the last two years and the “greatest contribution” in public works in Ávila throughout 2023.