On Tuesday, the interior minister acknowledged that there is a possibility of reviewing the funding of humanitarian volunteer firemen’s associations, stressing that dialogue is underway with the League of Portuguese Firefighters (LBP) to improve the law.
“There are conditions for discussing the improvement of this law [do financiamento das associações de bombeiros]? I would say, yes, we are open, and this was the subject of dialogue with the LBP. There is this possibility of openness,” said José Luis Carneiro during the discussion of the state budget 2024 (OE2024) for the internal security sector.
However, the minister said that next year “the increase in the cost of permanent funding for humanitarian firefighter associations will continue and reach a value of 32.6 million euros, which corresponds to an increase in the budget of almost one million euros.”
For the special device for rural fire extinguishing (DECIR), OE2024 provides an amount of 54.9 million euros, the minister emphasized, adding that in 2024 the transfer to the Firefighters Social Protection Fund (FPSB) will amount to 979 thousand euros.
According to a government official, government funding for the Portuguese Firefighters’ League will amount to more than half a million euros per year, while financial support for the National Firefighters’ School (ENB), worth three million euros per year, will be provided by the National Office of Emergency Management and Civil Protection.
José Luis Carneiro also stated that “the government will support the goal of gradual development towards professionalization through partnerships between humanitarian associations, municipalities and the National Directorate of Emergency Management and Civil Protection, with the aim of strengthening the model of continuous professional response to civil protection risks.” based on permanent surgical intervention teams.”
According to the minister, in 2024 the state will have 779 authorized brigades with 3,895 firefighters, with an MAI investment of €32.2 million.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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