Canary Islands Urges Fair Funding for Dependency Care System
Candelaria Delgado, the Canary Islands’ Minister for Social Welfare, has called for stable and adequate funding from the Spanish government for the Dependency Care System. She made this request during a Territorial Council meeting on 29 June in Madrid.
Delgado stressed the importance of understanding how the recently announced funding increase will benefit the islands. “While any boost in state financing is valued, we must rigorously examine whether it covers the state’s share and reflects the real costs of the system,” she said.
She cautioned that the extraordinary funding isn’t guaranteed and relies on approval from a Congress where the government lacks a majority. Delgado highlighted that the Canary Islands have been bearing a disproportionate amount of the care system’s costs due to inadequate state funding. In 2025, the autonomous community spent €403.9 million on dependency care, while the state’s contribution was only €101.8 million.
The minister noted that operating services across seven islands involves higher transportation costs and limited economies of scale. Despite these challenges, it was confirmed that the region would receive €44.2 million from the Agreed Level in 2026, nearly doubling last year’s 23 million.
Delgado acknowledged this increase as a recognition of the islands’ efforts in dependency care but reiterated the need for long-term stability and funding that considers the unique characteristics of the Canary Islands.
Additionally, she reported that the average monthly expenditure for dependency care has surged from over €8 million at the start of the current legislative term to about €16 million now, resulting in more individuals receiving their rightful benefits. Between 2023 and 2026, annual spending is expected to rise from €95.52 million to nearly €189.43 million.
The council meeting also confirmed that the Canary Islands would receive €22.43 million from the 0.7% section of the income tax in 2026, maintaining its relative share in the state distribution. Delgado emphasised the importance of ensuring that funding criteria accurately reflect the unique needs of the Canary Islands and reiterated the commitment to improving the system while demanding fair financing.
