The Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality, Loles López, highlighted the results in parliament Structural reform carried out in centers for the assessment and guidance of people with disabilities (CVO) in Andalusia to improve attention and services for citizens. In the year 2024, Resolutions increased by 58 percent, reaching 104,690 applications more than in 2023. On the other hand, she stated that the project to reform the dependency law proposed by the central government, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, will be «wet paper» if the autonomous communities do not provide the funding.
In the parliamentary committee dedicated to the field of disability, the councilor balanced the actions taken in this field and emphasized the results that have occurred as a result of this reform. Grade resolutions (recognition, review of demands, and party cases) doubled in 2023, reaching 72,880. These figures show the results of the set of measures taken and also imply an increase in the data in 2018.
An upward trend that stands out and in Accreditation books with another 15,463 books, totaling 44,351. And, regarding Parking books, over 24,000 were issued and the issuance time is met, except in the provinces of Almería and Granada, even below what is stipulated by law, so that the books are issued in a month (with the deadline set at three).
Regarding non-state pension resolutions, the councilor stated that there were over 4,800, representing 1,790 more than the previous year. Certificates of workforce aptitude also increased, starting with 1,874, 493 more than the previous year. Therefore, despite this balance, she was aware of the delay in CVO and influenced the desire of her department to improve the care provided to people with disabilities, especially minors.
Minors, priority
At this point, López emphasized that The average delay time for evaluating this group has been reduced by 14.7 percent, reaching up to 44.7 percent in Seville, where the changes made with this structural reform began and where a two-month wait was approved. In light of this, the head of inclusion emphasized that, for children under six years old, the average was reduced by 11.7 percent in Andalusia. However, in Seville, it increases to 47 percent, demonstrating the effectiveness of the changes once again.
López defended the structural reform carried out for the assessment centers and disability guidance (CVO), which involve various personal, procedural, and technological resources. The councilor, who acknowledged that «there is more to improve,» said It must continue on this path to strengthen the system. And this is lasting and efficient.
Dependency
On the other hand, the councilor referred to Registration figures recorded in the addiction system. Andalusia exceeded 296,600 served and over 442,200 benefits. Additionally, she listed some of the actions launched by the Andalusian government, such as the establishment of 4,553 residential places since 2019, compared to 283 in the last socialist term. Along these lines, she highlighted the allocation of 134 million in grants for the construction and renovation of centers and day residences for the elderly and those with disabilities. Of these 134 million, 33 are specifically for centers for people with disabilities.
She also noted An increase in the price/time of home assistance and the price/place after years of being frozen during previous socialist governments and emphasized, for example, the average 24.1 percent increase for the price/place for people with disabilities. And all this, while continuing, faces a «Systematic underfunding by the central government which owes the Andalusian dependency system 4,000 million euros since 2019.
Underfunding
López recalled that the extension of the state’s general budgets meant in 2024 approximately 200 million euros less for dependent people in Andalusia and was asked whether there will be a General State Budget in 2025 and the impact it will have on addiction funding.
Therefore, she was convinced that The reform law on addiction reform of the central government-approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, will be «wet paper» if the central government continues not to provide the autonomous communities with the funding they are entitled to.
The councilor aligned her approach with what was stated this week by the Association of Social Services and Managers, which criticized the Government for proposing a law reform without resources for its effectiveness. Therefore, as López predicted, «frustrations» are generated instead of ensuring the rights of the most vulnerable citizens, such as those struggling with addiction.