The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, stressed that the government doubled its contribution to the Galician dependency service, managed by the Xunta, with 780 million euros in the last four years, while the regional administration reduced its investment. He did so during a meeting with Alberto Varela, president of the Galician Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (Fegamp).
The delegate stressed the record figure reached by the government in dependency investment during 2023, “exceeding the 200 million euros transferred to the Xunta de Galicia”. He lamented the action of the Galician Administration, “since in the last three years its contribution decreased as the Government of Spain increased it, instead of adding to consolidate a system of attention to dependency just for the more than 71,000 Galicians and Galicians who have recognized this degree.”
Pedro Blanco explained that more than 606 million euros of the total transmitted to the Xunta since 2020 was used to finance the services of dependent people, such as the Home Care Service provided by the Galician concellos.
The delegate valued this role of local entities, saying of the councillors that they are the administration closest to citizenship and that without them “many people would be helpless.” “For example, the dependent people, and, of them, the 25,500 Galicians and Galicians who make use of the Home Care Service provided by the municipalities.”
Pedro Blanco took advantage of the meeting with Alberto Varela to listen to the claims and needs of the Galician concellos, acquiring with him the commitment to transfer to the Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, the situation of municipal services.
The delegate took the opportunity to ask the Xunta “to show this same sensitivity and, instead of commissioning studies to discredit the concellos, recognize the work they carry out to guarantee the well-being of thousands of Galicians and Galicians who need these services for a dignified life.
Commitment to municipalities
“The Government’s work with local administrations is more intense than ever, recognizing also its role in maintaining the welfare state and in providing essential public services through the resources, investments and aid of the Recovery Plan that we put on the table to the 313 concellos of Galicia,” said Pedro Blanco.
In total, the amount transferred from the Government to the Spanish local entities in 2024 will reach the record figure of 28,557 million euros, 22% more than in 2023, something that makes clear the profoundly municipal identity that the Government of Pedro Sánchez has.