The President of the Government announced that the proposed Investment Plan for 2016 provides an increase over 20 percent in the funds allocated to the area of social solidarity, especially in the priority support measures for the Azoreans who are in a more fragile situation.

"More than percentages, we are talking about responses that are given to the Azorean citizens," stressed Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government spoke at the opening ceremony to lay the first stone of the Day Centre and Games Library of the "Casa do Povo" of Maia. This work represents a public investment over 1.5 million Euros.

Vasco Cordeiro stated that the area of Social Solidarity will have a budget of nearly 57 million Euros next year, of which 7.5 million will be exclusively directed to social facilities for Children and Youth.

In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro recalled that "in this period of turbulence, the Government of the Azores has done everything, within the limits of its powers and resources, to reduce as much as possible the impact of this turbulence on the Azorean population."

"We have also been affected by the situation we are living, but we have been less affected here because we have created and maintained measures to help the Azorean people to overcome this situation with less difficulty than, for example, those who live in Mainland Portugal," said the President of the Government.

At the laying of the first stone of the future Day Centre and Games Library, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that this investment is "another step in the path we have followed and it can be measured by the coverage rates registered in the Azores in a significant number of social responses. They already exceed the standards established internationally, namely in terms of day care centres, occupational centre and homes for people with disabilities."

In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro announced that, according to the schedule of the Regional Public Works Charter, the Government will move forward with the construction of another three day centres on the islands of Faial (Flamengos), São Miguel (Bretanha) and Terceira (Doze Ribeiras).

"It is a global investment over three million Euros that will already start in early 2016 and will create more than 60 jobs in day centres, which adds up to more than 400 available vacancies throughout our Region," said the President of the Government.

Vasco Cordeiro also announced that the Government plans to move forward next year with the construction of intergenerational centres in the villages of Ponta Garça and Arrifes on the island of São Miguel. Both villages have a population density that justifies these investments, which will address the needs of the local population.
 
The President of the Government also noted that the construction of the Day Centre and the Games Library is not the only project promoted or supported by the Government of the Azores in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, where significant investments have been made in various areas since this Government entered into office.

"Since late 2012, Ribeira Grande has already received investments amounting to 60 million Euros, such as the new Gaspar Fructuoso School, which is under construction, the new Rabo de Peixe port, the São Miguel Exhibition Pavilion, Arquipélago - Contemporary Arts Centre and several social infrastructures," stressed the President of the Government.

"From the very beginning, the Government has awarded priority status to social areas. It is clearly aware that the construction and strengthening of this social support network that daily serves thousands of Azoreans is only possible, because it is the result of a partnership with thousands of private institutions on the nine islands of our Region," noted Vasco Cordeiro.