The PS parliamentary group in the Assembly of the Republic has demanded an urgent hearing of the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing in the Economic Committee to obtain clarification on subsidies for social mobility in the autonomous regions.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, PS Açores explains that the Socialist parliamentary group considers it urgent that the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, intervene to provide clarification on the issue and “to find solutions to the problems raised by the citizens of the Autonomous Region.”
“It is alarming to observe the persistent difficulties faced by residents of the autonomous regions in receiving reimbursement for the social mobility subsidy,” said deputy Francisco Vale Cesar, elected from the Azores constituency, quoted in the note.
PS Azores recalls that “news published by regional media and reports from passengers in the autonomous regions have been frequent about difficulties in obtaining reimbursement of the social mobility subsidy after traveling to and from the Portuguese mainland at an acceptable financial cost.”
As an example, it states that on the same day, “the CTT station on the island of Terceira limited XP fare refunds to €20 without prior notice, while another similar station on the island of São Miguel did not.” apply any reimbursement limitation to that rate.”
According to the party, on Wednesday a parliamentary group brought to the attention of the CTT that the CTT requires the recipient of the reimbursement (usually companies or those bearing the costs of the trip) to fulfill an honor obligation specifying the reasons for the beneficiary’s trip.
“This is an arbitrary measure that violates the rights of citizens,” says Francisco Vale Cesar.
On Tuesday, the Azores government said that “normality” has already been restored in the reimbursement of the social mobility subsidy between the Azores and the mainland after “persistent requests” to the Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF).
On April 10, the Madeira government announced that the new criteria that had begun to be established for the payment of the regional social mobility subsidy would be withdrawn, noting that the CTT had already issued instructions to its agencies.
The subsidy allows residents of the Azores to travel to the mainland for a maximum airfare of €134, with any amount exceeding this target being reimbursed by the government as a refund.
In Madeira, residents now pay €86 for a round trip to the mainland and €119 for the Azores, with this amount subject to increase if they exceed the €400 maximum of €65 for students.
Students also have the option of paying as little as €65 when purchasing a ticket if they do so at a travel agency. Other residents must pay for the trip and only receive a refund at the end.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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