The Socialist Group in the Cabildo de Tenerife stated on Thursday that the recent extension of the dependency agreement between the Canary Islands and the Cabildos concluded on December 31, meaning that the Tenerife system would rely on its own resources for financing until April. This is an “unprecedented” circumstance that, the PSOE asserts, neither President Rosa Dávila nor the regional government “has been able to foresee or strategically plan.”
The socialist party has put forth a motion for the plenary session on Friday to highlight the “serious situation” threatening the dependency system on the island, as conveyed by the president of the PSOE in Tenerife, Pedro Martín, alongside councillor Marián Franquet in a statement.
After outlining the circumstances at a press briefing, the PSOE remarked that the island president must “urge the Canary Islands government to take action on the new dependency agreement.
The socialists clarify that the ongoing financing uncertainty impacts places for individuals with disabilities, dependents, and the elderly, including both residential and day centres. This encompasses services aimed at promoting autonomy, resources tailored for individuals with dementia, mobility issues, telecare, major hospitals, such as the fragile fields, and actions related to recognising dependency situations.
A situation affecting over 41,000 users and 3,200 professionals
According to the PSOE, with no new agreement since January 1, 2025, services are being funded solely from Cabildo credits, which are projected to be depleted by April. Furthermore, this prevents the establishment of new places, the introduction of the specialised home care service (SADE), the expansion of the service portfolio, or the assurance of service continuity, as the Cabildo will have no resources post-April.
“We must consider that this uncertain situation impacts tens of thousands of individuals in Tenerife, both users and their families, as well as hundreds of workers from various resources that lack an agreement securing funding. Just the users alone number over 41,000, to which more than 3,200 professionals should be added,” indicated the political party.
The situation affects not only the dependency agreement but also the completion of the II Convention of Socio-Health Infrastructure, with negotiations for III yet to commence. This implies that the Cabildo would need to finance ongoing projects itself until 2028, amounting to costs of 138 million euros.
Pedro Martín recalled all this, despite Rosa Dávila’s commitment to allocating 120 million euros to enhance the dependency system and establish 2,800 places for dependent individuals.
The socialist motion will urge the insular government and its president to seek the urgent signing of a new agreement, ensuring adequate funding, continuity of services, and an update on their pricing. Additionally, it will request the implementation of an emergency plan to address the waiting list, with a budget of one million euros.
“That million euros also formed part of the last socialist budget, following a proposal from the Popular Group itself. However, upon joining the government, it was not executed; instead, it was incorporated into the 2024 budget and allocated to unrelated matters,” they decried.
Councillor Marián Franquet highlighted that the new Socio-Health Infrastructure agreement has not yet been signed, which is one of the “key” components necessary for the autonomous community to be effective in applying the Dependency Law. Furthermore, the Canary Islands government has not included the new places agreed with the Cabildo in last year’s regional budgets.
