The first call for applications under the Portugal 2030 Partnership Agreement, which aims to finance school infrastructure, was launched this Wednesday, December 27th. In a presentation made yesterday to journalists, José Apolinário, president of the Coordination and Regional Development Commission (CCDR) of the Algarve, stressed that the first notice corresponds to 5 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), "a co-payment fee 60%', the remainder being provided by the government.
For the first notice, Applications can be submitted in two phases: one by the end of February and another by the 2nd of May.
«European funds have a strong eligibility component in school infrastructure. In the new framework of 2030, we will continue to support schools that have a component of the new generation of infrastructures to respond to demographic, climatic challenges (such as a 30% reduction in energy consumption), and accessibility», said José Apolinário, stressing that these are the main requirements for supports.
Despite the notice now launched corresponding to 5 million euros, the president of CCDR Algarve stressed that the global investment to be counted for Portugal 2030 will be around 25 million euros in schools.
«The 5 million is not enough for all schools, that's why this is just the first warning. When we then have an accounting of the candidacies that are able to move forward, we will make the assessment to see if we have to reinforce the notice or not », she clarified.
The Program for the Requalification/Rehabilitation of Schools, within the scope of the sectoral agreement established between the Government and the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP), was celebrated on the 22nd of July, having stipulated the list of schools in the Algarve with “very urgent” priority and “urgent” at the intervention level.
In total, there are 26 schools in the Algarve identified as priorities for this funding, and those classified as “very urgent” are Escola Básica D. Afonso III, in Faro, the Basic School Dr. Garcia Domingues, in Silves, and Escola Secundária Dr. Jorge Augusto Correia, in Tavira.
However, still within the scope of Portugal 2020, José Apolinário explained that there are two schools approved in the framework that have not yet started the works (the Manuel do Nascimento School, in Monchique, and the Paula Nogueira School, in Olhão).
«The expectation is that they will start in 2023 and what we are trying to ensure is that the part that is not executed in 2023 can be accounted for in Portugal 2030», said the president of CCDR Algarve, stressing that, in Portugal 2020, there are even now approved 23,2 million euros of investment in schools.
Comments