The Government will facilitate the construction of 88 new subsidised housing units in Derio and allocate 107.75 million euros in public aid.

The Governing Council has authorised an expenditure of 107.75 million euros for housing aid programmes.

According to the Government spokesperson, Maria Ubarretxena, this aid is distributed across six programmes:

• 36 million euros for housing renovation subsidies
• 30 million euros for the promotion of renting
• 9.2 million euros for energy efficiency
• 7 million euros to subsidise loan interest
• 25 million euros for the Gaztelagun Programme[1]
• 400,000 euros in aid for the acquisition of second-hand private housing

Additionally, the Governing Council has approved the signing of an agreement between the Department of Housing and the Urban Agenda and Construcciones Sukia Eraikuntzak, S.L. for the development of 88 subsidised housing units in Derio.

This project, aligned with the strategy to promote affordable rental housing, involves an investment of 3.96 million euros in direct aid.

"The new development in Derio," said Ubarretxena, "reinforces the Government's commitment to access to subsidised housing and the expansion of the public affordable rental stock. This ensures a framework of stability and legal certainty for both developers and future tenants.”

€6.7 Million for the Expansion of Bakio’s State School

The Governing Council has also approved the extension of the Bakio Infant and Primary School. The total planned investment amounts to 6.7 million euros

"The main objective of this extension," explained the spokeswoman, "is to provide the town with a modern educational centre, featuring new facilities and flexible learning spaces. The project also includes a new sustainable and energy-efficient system.”

As Maria Ubarretxena further explained, this action forms part of the Educational Infrastructure Plan presented by the President of the Basque Government, Imanol Pradales.  This plan represents a strategic commitment to transforming learning, improving education quality, and ensuring equity. A total of 750 million euros will be invested.

Furthermore, the Government will allocate 24 million euros to finance loans for the construction or adaptation of infrastructure for educational cooperatives within the state-subsidised network.

The goal of this aid is to finance loans for investments in the acquisition of real estate for educational use. It will also support new construction, expansion, replacement, and adaptation to comply with current regulatory requirements.

The subsidy amount will cover up to 50% of the amortisation and interest of the loan.

The Department of Education Welcomes 171 New Language Assistants

The Council has also approved the hiring of 171 language assistants in English, French and German for the 2025-2026 academic year.

"The Basque Government," said the spokesperson, "will allocate just over one million euros to finance these staff, strengthening the oral skills of pupils in primary and secondary schools as well as official language schools.”

Of the 171 assistants to be funded by the Department of Education, 157 will be English language assistants, nine will be French and five will be German.

New Agreement Enhances Information Access Between Osakidetza and the Social Security System

The Governing Council has authorised an agreement between the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), the Social Marine Institute (ISM), and the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, enabling digital access to medical reports from the administrative files of the INSS and ISM.

This agreement aims to improve the management, control, and monitoring of benefits for incapacity for work, both temporary and permanent, and for common and occupational contingencies.

Access, restricted to authorised personnel, will be through a single common access point to the application.

Osakidetza has already made an investment of 100 million euros to advance the digital transformation of healthcare.

Specifically, the spokesperson stated that these resources have been allocated to:

• Enhancing public services through the new ‘Erantzunak’[2] channel
• Empowering patients by promoting self-management to optimise appointment scheduling and reduce waiting times
• Improving care, such as video consultations based on artificial intelligence for patients with reduced mobility
• Investing in technologies that reduce bureaucracy in the work of healthcare professionals

Support for Enhancing the Quality of Agricultural Products

The Governing Council has approved an aid programme of 880,000 euros to improve the quality of agricultural and food products.

This aid is targeted at farmers participating in quality schemes for the first time, as well as groups of producers conducting information or promotional activities.

[1] The Basque housing rental aid programme provides financial support for young people (up to 36 years old) to help cover a percentage of their monthly rent, with varying limits based on location.

[2] The Basque word Erantzunak means "answers" or "responses."