Private Social Solidarity Institutions and Charities receive €3.25 million - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, announced today an extraordinary funding boost of €3.25 million to finance social services in the Azores, through funds transferred by the National Government, via the Institute for Social Security Financial Management to the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA).

This sum adds up to the €2 million already transferred in July this year, bringing the total amount of additional transfers earmarked for funding Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) in the Azores in 2026 to €5.25 million.

Mónica Seidi emphasised that “the National Government responded positively to the arguments put forward by the Azorean Government and the institutions' representatives in a process marked by constructive dialogue and the search for solutions to address the financial difficulties faced by the social sector.”

The government official explained that the additional funding will lead to the immediate introduction of a new addendum to the existing cooperation agreements between ISSA and the institutions, ensuring that funding for the Region's social services is brought up to date.

The proposal put forward by the ISSA covers the 38 social services covered by the cooperation agreements, with special focus on four areas that had not yet been updated this year.

These include Residential Care Structures for the Elderly (ERPI), respite care services for caregivers, residential homes for people with disabilities and nursery schools, for which a 4.7% increase is planned.

As regards the remaining social services, the proposal provides for an additional 2.3% increase, on top of the 2.4% rise already implemented in July.

Mónica Seidi also highlighted that, compared with the previous year, financial transfers are being made earlier, giving institutions greater capacity to plan and manage their commitments.

In this context, the government official called on union organisations to act responsibly, expressing the hope that, given the financial support now announced and the proposed update to the cooperation agreements, the conditions are in place for the announced strike to be called off.