Last week, the Algarve was awarded €16 million, of the €90 million available for Portugal, to invest in this programme.

According to the director of the Regional Social Security Centre, 85 percent of the community funds are already available, with €8.7 million to be allocated to the elderly care centres and €4.7 million for the disabled. “It is a chance for the Algarve to end long lasting deficiencies in infrastructures for elderly and handicapped people” said Jorge Botelho.

The care centre projects for both elderly and disabled will be put up for tender and final plans must be submitted no later than April 20th.

José Apolinário, Faro Mayor, underlined the importance of these sorts of investments; pointing out the fact that these new centres will generate more jobs, at a time when unemployment in the region is soaring.

The Portugal News Online