Labour minister wants more money for social services

Prague, Feb 18 (CTK) - Czech Labour and Social Affairs Minister Ludmila Muellerova (TOP 09) wants to start talks with the Finance Ministry on further subsidies for social services whose providers are complaining about lack of money, Muellerova said Monday.

Muellerova said she wanted to achieve a "more efficient use" of the state contribution to care, with which people can acquire it.

If the subsidies are not raised, some 250 facilities will end, she said after her talks with representatives of the Czech Association of Providers of Social Services (APSSC) and Czech regions.

The providers asked for 10.3 billion crowns for this year, but they are only to be given 6.05 billion.

The regions said they should obtain 8.2 billion crowns.

The subsidies have been continually reduced. In 2009, they amounted to 7.4 billion crowns, but one year later, the sum was 600 million smaller. In 2011, 6.2 billion crowns were spent on the purpose, but only roughly 6.15 billion last year.

The providers of care complained about the shortage of money last year, threatening to launch protest.

Former minister Jaromir Drabek (TOP 09) eventually found another 140 million crowns in the office's reserves.

Muellerova said the ministry now had some 80 million for extra funding.