SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23rd February (EUROPA PRESS) –
Raúl Acosta, the Independent Herreña Group (AHI) representative in the Canary Islands Parliament, plans to present a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) in the upcoming Plenary, urging for the extension of the residence discount to the children of divorced parents residing in the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. This is aimed at facilitating the relationship of minors with the non-custodial parent.
Acosta points out that the current laws and decrees governing the subsidy for regular maritime and air transportation for residents do not cater to this scenario, impacting a significant number of minors.
Specifically, he highlights the predicament of minors whose parents are legally separated or divorced, living with one parent in the Peninsula while the other resides in the Canary Islands.
The administrative residence of these minors in the Peninsula disqualifies them from availing the subsidy, creating significant barriers to maintain a relationship with their other parent and family in the islands, especially due to the high cost of non-subsidized tickets, Acosta notes.
This challenge is amplified when minors need to travel to islands such as La Gomera or El Hierro, which lack direct connections with the Peninsula, requiring additional payment for interisland flight tickets, ineligible for subsidies.
Acosta also highlights that minors’ travel often coincides with peak vacation periods, further exacerbating the financial burden.
The parliamentarian emphasises the responsibility of public administration in promoting policies that support the comprehensive development of minors, as stipulated in Organic Law 8/2015, of July 22, modifying the protection system for childhood and adolescence.
“The disqualification of these minors as beneficiaries of the transportation subsidy hinders the non-custodial parents’ ability to exercise their rights and, more significantly, to maintain the emotional bond with their children,” states the deputy.
Acosta suggests that this issue can be easily resolved given the high level of automation in the residence accreditation system and the potential linkage of a minor’s ticket with the DNI of the parent residing in the Canary Islands.
He proposes that the Canarian Government, in turn, request the inclusion of these minors as beneficiaries of the residence discount subsidy from the Spanish Government.
