The Chamber of Braga this Monday unanimously approved the allocation of support in the amount of 200 euros for each birth or adoption in the municipality, although the opposition considered this measure insignificant and insufficient.
PS adviser Silvia Sousa said the measure was “not significant as a stimulus to fertility”, also questioning the fact that the support is “universal” regardless of the economic situation of each family.
“It is not for 200 euros that a family decides to have children,” he said, calling for a rethink of this measure in terms of positive discrimination against those who need it most.
According to Silvia Sousa, policies to effectively support births and adoptions should include more structured measures, in particular in the area of kindergartens and housing.
CDU board member Barbara Barros also believes that the demographic strategy should be based on the state network of kindergartens and the strengthening of public housing, as well as the provision of vaccines that are not part of the National Immunization Plan.
The communist admitted that the €200 support could be a “substantial help” for some families and “very short” for others, so she suggested a possible top-up in the coming years.
Mayor Ricardo Rio said support, rather than an incentive for births and adoptions, should be seen as a “reward” for those who choose to grow their household.
The mayor acknowledged that the cost could rise in the coming years and stressed that the municipality has a “very active” policy to support births and families.
“Nine years in a row we have been recognized as a family-oriented authority,” he said.
A financial support of €200 will be provided to children born between 1 January and 31 December 2023, whose households were tax residents of Braga for at least one year prior to the date of birth.
The incentive will also be given to children aged 6 and under adopted during this year.
It will be awarded in a lump sum for each birth or adoption “upon proof of expenditure incurred on goods and services deemed necessary for the healthy development of the child.”
Support will be provided to one of the parents who is married or living in a de facto union with whom the child lives, or to the parent who is the child’s guardian, or to any natural person to whom the child is entrusted by a judicial or administrative decision and with whom he lives, namely by adoption.
A support request must be made by completing a form, which must be delivered to Balcão Único or sent by post or electronically.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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