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Madrid demands central government funding for dependency care and warns of social impact
The Comunidad de Madrid is calling on the national government to pay a €3 billion debt for dependency care. Insufficient funding affects thousands of families and could change social care in the city.
Funding for dependency care is once again at the centre of debate in Madrid. The Comunidad, through the councillor for Family, Youth and Social Policies, has requested an urgent meeting with the minister for Derechos Sociales to address a debt that, according to the regional government, now exceeds €3 billion. They say this figure reflects the gap between what the State provides and the actual cost of maintaining the system in the region.
In the letter sent to the Ministry, councillor Ana Dávila details that the state contribution in 2024 barely covers 27.5% of the expenditure, far from the 50% co-financing commitment. The outlook for next year does not improve, which, according to the Comunidad, worsens the situation for those who depend on these services in Madrid.
The impact is direct: with the funds that did not arrive last year, more than 12,000 residential places could have been created or millions of hours of home help funded. The councillor finds it hard to justify the central government continuing to rely on the extension of the Presupuestos Generales as a reason not to increase funding, especially when there are legal mechanisms to do so.
The case of ELA is mentioned as an example of how, even without new budgets, specific funds have been made available. However, the Comunidad criticises that the same flexibility is not applied to the dependency care system, which affects more than one and a half million people across the country.
Madrid's request is clear: an immediate meeting to review funding, demand fulfilment of commitments, and agree on measures to guarantee the sustainability of the system. The aim is to ensure dignified care for the most vulnerable people, something that, according to the Comunidad, is at risk if the current imbalance is not resolved.
The dependency care system in Madrid is one of the pillars of social care in the city. Its operation involves a network of residential homes, day centres, and home help services that reach thousands of families in every neighbourhood. Adjustments in funding affect not only those who receive the service, but also employment in the sector and the ability to respond to new needs. Madrid is already moving in this direction, seeking solutions that will allow the city to maintain the level of care it demands.