Naalakkersuisoq for Children, Young People, the Justice Area and Equality, Mariane Paviasen Jensen (IA), now clarifies that the municipalities still have the option of getting day care facilities for children.
The majority of the people elected in Avannaata Kommunia decided at the municipal board’s meeting on 25 September to establish a day care institution for children and young people in Ilulissat.
The Department for Children, Youth, Justice and Equality issued a press release four days after the elected representatives’ decision in Avannaata Kommunia. In the announcement, naalakkersuisoq’s decision was described. Namely “The application process for new residential institutions on hold”.
Naalakkersuisoq now acknowledges to Sermitsiaq that it was not clarified in the announcement about the temporary suspension of applications that the municipalities still had the opportunity to apply.
– I regret that on 29 September I presented it unclearly.
– This concerns a temporary suspension of the processing of applications from private individuals who wish to establish a day care institution for children and young people. The reason is that at that time there were a total of 22 vacant places in the residential institutions, says Mariane Paviasen Jensen (IA).
Naalakkersuisoq: I didn’t think about the municipalities
Sermitsiaq wrote on Monday, October 12, about Avannaata Kommunias and Naalakkersuisut’s decisions. Shortly after the article was published, the department issued a press release. With the headline: “Naalakkersuisut clarifies: Municipalities can still apply for and establish new daycare institutions.” In that message, naalakkersuisoq corrected himself.
Why weren’t you exactly already in the first message?
– When I decided to put applications on hold, I did not think of the municipalities. I’m very sorry I didn’t clarify that. Already in my first message I should have stated that the municipalities were not covered and that it did not apply to their establishment of institutions.
– I did not know about the municipality’s decision before you wrote about it. I only found out when you brought the story, says naalakkersuisoq.
Student homes must become residential institutions
The coalition of Avannaata Kommunia, Siumut and Naleraq, which holds the post of mayor, decided at a meeting that the boarding school in Ilulissat must be converted into a day care institution for children and young people.
The opposition, Demokraatit, Atassut and Inuit Ataqatigiit, do not agree with the decision made by the mayoral parties. They otherwise wanted the student dormitory to be used as a home for the disabled. But that will not be the case, as they do not have a majority.
In its decision-making basis, the municipality’s administration informs the elected representatives that the number of children from the settlements around Ilulissat, who in the coming years can come to Ilulissat to go to school, will decrease, and that they can all get a place in Uummannaq rather than in Ilulissat.
– The projection of the future number of students shows that there is no need to use all 21 places in Ilulissat for student accommodation. According to the available information, the maximum 21 students who need a place in a student dormitory can be accommodated in Uummannaq, writes the Family Administration.
The family administration previously informed Sermitsiaq that the officials will continue to work on the case in order to implement the majority’s decision. The application to establish a 24-hour home will also be included in the work.
Avannaata Kommunia plans for ten children aged 10 to 18 to be able to live in the planned municipally run home.
