52.7 million euros will be allocated for a special device to fight rural fires.

The Minister of the Interior announced this Saturday an investment of 52.7 million euros in the Dedicated Rural Fire Fighting Device (DECIR) and promised to increase the speed of civil protection payments to firefighters.

“For 2023, we will go from 29.7 million euros to 31.7 million in permanent financing, that is, it will be an increase of 6.7 percent. 20 years. And DECIR will have the highest cost ever, with a budget allocation of 52.7 million euros. “said José Luis Carneiro.

According to official guardianship information provided to journalists, in 2022 the DECIR budget was 32.4 million euros.

José Luis Carneiro, who spoke in Gondomar, Porto district, at the XXII Extraordinary Congress of the League of Fire Fighters of Portugal, which started this Saturday and will end on Sunday, spoke about the government’s investments in the sector since 2015 to guarantee an increase in investment.

“In DECIR’s 2023 budget allocation, we have taken into account the average of the budget spent over the past three years, guaranteeing the autonomy of the ANEPC to reimburse humanitarian firefighters’ associations more quickly,” he said.

José Luis Carneiro believed that this decision was intended to “remove” the erosion of trust between humanitarian associations and ANEPC regarding the speed of payments.

“This will pay off faster for humanitarian associations, and they for their suppliers,” he assured.

In a speech to volunteer firefighters, commanders and corporate leaders, as well as President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Portuguese League of Firefighters (LBP) President António Nunez at the congress table, the minister referred to the controversy that marked the sector on Friday.

“Yesterday [sexta-feira] the Minister of Health had the opportunity to clarify the situation,” the Minister of the Interior said.

In contention is the content of the order to increase funds by 8% in the agreement with INEM and the clause, which according to LBP was not agreed upon, which provides for the use of ambulances not registered for emergency medical care and the corresponding values, at the price of reserve vehicles .

Also on Friday, the Ministry of Health suggested that the inclusion of this item was an “oversight” and that a discussion of the topic is scheduled at a scheduled meeting of the parties.

This Saturday, José Luis Carneiro also said that the National School of Firefighters will receive three million euros this year “to continue the education of women and men who have dedicated themselves to this noble mission.”

“However, your and our goal is to make a qualitative leap in terms of connecting the National School with national and European centers of research and knowledge,” he added.

Finally, the minister acknowledged that “work remains to be done to adapt society, institutions and the state” in relation to the national civil protection system.