SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 15th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of the Presidency, Public Administration, Justice and Security of the Government of the Canary Islands has approved a subsidy of £24 million to the Cabildo of La Palma for the funding of homes that are built, under construction, or planned.
This announcement was made on Friday by the councilor during a press briefing held alongside the president of the Cabildo, Sergio Rodríguez, and the deputy counselor for Economic and Social Recovery of La Palma, Pedro Afonso.
The £24 million provided by the Ministry of the Presidency has already been handed over to the Cabildo, which will further contribute £7 million from its own resources, totaling £31 million that will be allocated to a recovery plan.
“The housing regulation enables the use of plots and will facilitate the development of protected and public housing in La Palma. Additionally, considering the circumstances in the Aridane valley due to the volcano, we believe that an extra effort is necessary to address this situation through the initiation of this recovery plan,” explained Barreto.
According to the councilor, there are two approaches to achieve this goal: a general one, allowed by the recently approved public housing regulation for the entire Canary Islands, aimed at increasing public and protected housing in the upcoming years, including in La Palma, to ensure that individuals who have been on waitlists for a home for some time do not face further delays.
There is also a specific approach to provide housing to those affected by the volcano who may not have the means to acquire a new home after receiving compensation for their losses, giving them the choice between receiving compensation or opting for public or protected housing.
The housing regulation in La Palma enables the development of public plots provided by the local councils of Los Llanos de Aridane and El Paso that were previously not qualified for construction. Meanwhile, 166 homes are already planned in Tazacorte on two plots donated by the City Council, with one of the proposed blocks already in the construction tender phase.
Another key aspect of the regulation is the streamlining of administrative processes, allowing for the concurrent handling of project design and construction tendering.
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES IN LA PALMA
During the press conference, Sergio Rodríguez praised the efforts of the Government of the Canary Islands, stating that “in just 8 months, several regulations have been approved to offer solutions to the various issues on the island of La Palma, particularly in the valley, swiftly resolving all the challenges left unaddressed by preceding legislation with subsequent decrees.”
He emphasised, “We are faced with a significant housing problem, and this Government has comprehended the gravity of the situation and is dedicated to finding solutions.”
The President of the Cabildo highlighted that the Corporation will contribute an additional £7 million from its resources to support this recovery plan of the Government, in addition to the £5 million previously provided to municipalities for land acquisition to be allocated for public housing.
