The Minister of Internal Administration announced this Saturday the investment of 52.7 million euros in the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR) and promised more speed in Civil Protection payments to firefighters.
“For 2023, we will go from 29.7 million euros to 31.7 million in permanent funding, that is, it will be an increase of 6.7%. years. And DECIR will have the highest value ever, with a budget provision of 52.7 million euros”, said José Luís Carneiro.
According to official information from the guardianship provided to journalists, in 2022 DECIR’s budget was 32.4 million euros.
José Luís Carneiro, who was speaking in Gondomar, in the Porto district, at the XXII Extraordinary Congress of the Portuguese Firefighters League, which started today and ends Sunday, made a history of investments made by the Government in this sector since 2015 to guarantee an increase in investments.
“In the DECIR budget provision for 2023 we took into account the average of the budget exercise carried out in the last three years, guaranteeing autonomy to ANEPC to make reimbursements to Humanitarian Associations of Firefighters more quickly”, he said.
José Luís Carneiro considered that, with this decision, the objective was to “remove” a factor of erosion in the relationship of trust between the humanitarian associations and the ANEPC with regard to the speed of payments.
“This will pay faster to humanitarian associations and these to their suppliers,” he guaranteed.
In a speech before volunteer firefighters, commanders and leaders of corporations and with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the president of the Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP), António Nunes, at the congress table, the minister alluded to the controversy that marked this sector on Friday.
“Yesterday [sexta-feira]the Minister of Health had the opportunity to clarify the situation”, said the Minister of Internal Administration.
At issue is the content of the order with the reinforcement of funds by 8% in the agreement with INEM and the point, which the LBP says has not been negotiated, which provides for the use of ambulances not registered for medical emergencies and the respective values, at the price of the reserve vehicles.
Also on Friday, the Ministry of Health assumed that the inclusion of this point was “an oversight” and that the discussion of the topic is scheduled for a scheduled meeting between the parties.
Today, José Luís Carneiro also said that the National School of Firefighters will receive three million euros this year “to continue to strengthen the training of women and men who are dedicated to this noble mission”.
“However, it is yours and our objective to make a qualitative leap in terms of the articulation of the National School with national and European research and knowledge centres”, he added.
Finally, the minister admitted that “there is work to be done to adapt society, institutions and the State” with regard to the national Civil Protection system.