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Statements by the Minister of Interior Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou
A wide-ranging ministerial meeting was held today at the Presidential Palace, during which competent Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other agencies reviewed the progress of the implementation of the National Strategy for Mountain Communities (ESAOK) Troodos.
In his statements after the meeting, Minister of Interior Mr. Constantinos Ioannou noted that "the meeting was held in the context of the Government's general policy of promoting policies and actions aimed at improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens living in mountainous and rural areas. Through a series of multi-level actions, we seek to create the necessary infrastructure that, on the one hand, meets the needs of the existing population to remain in these areas and, on the other hand, makes them attractive to new residents in order to reduce the phenomenon of urbanization."
Strengthening rural and mountain communities, Mr. Ioannou, "we are developing prospects for their transformation into tourist, cultural, agricultural and environmental nuclei, with consequent social and economic benefits."
In connection with today's meeting, the Minister of Interior said that the relevant ministers and other bodies were given the opportunity for a comprehensive review of the progress of the implementation of the projects and actions included in the NESAOC concerning the Troodos region and mountain areas. "The NSAPC currently includes a total of 280 projects and actions, with a total expenditure of approximately €762 million", the Minister pointed out.
In addition, various issues were discussed, for the resolution of which coordination between the Ministries and Deputy Ministries is required, while a first exchange of views was held on additional projects and policies that could be considered and included in the National Strategy.
According to Mr Ioannou, the factors affecting the development of each action were also examined and potential solutions for their relaunch and completion were assessed. Among other things, a recommendation was made to revise the ESAOC Action Plan, since it has become apparent that a number of actions may need to be re-evaluated to make them feasible.
"It was agreed that in the near future each Ministry and Deputy Ministry will undertake a detailed review of the actions that fall within their areas of responsibility, as well as their degree of maturity, so that a roadmap for their completion can then be defined. Finally, it was decided to evaluate new proposed projects that could be included in the NAPC and to prioritise them for implementation, in cooperation with the Commissioner for Mountain Community Development".
Subsequently, when asked if there were any developments with regard to the Housing Regeneration Plans for Mountain, Scenic and Disadvantaged Areas and Rural Areas, the Home Affairs Minister said that their review has been completed and they are expected to be submitted for approval at the next Cabinet meeting. He explained that it was considered appropriate to communicate the revised Plans with the changes incorporated. Referring to some of the amendments, the Minister said that these relate to the inclusion of new communities, the extension of the Plans for two years instead of one, the method of payment of the grant, etc. "Basically, the suggestions made to us all this time, either by community leaders or other stakeholders, were taken into account and we came up with these changes," he noted.
He pointed out that these Plans were first successfully implemented in 2019 by the previous government and since then more than €55 million have been invested and 1,500 households have benefited from them.
He pointed out that these Plans were first successfully implemented in 2019 by the previous government and since then more than €55 million have been invested and 1,500 households have benefited from them. He underlined that these grants are given for the first home of the beneficiaries and checks are made to ensure that this provision is respected.
He also conveyed the position that in order for these Projects to be utilized by citizens and, by extension, to reduce the phenomenon of urbanization, the development of infrastructure, schools, jobs, etc. is required. This is why the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities, which "includes 280 projects and actions with a budget of €762 million. Most of them concern either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Transport with projects, or the Ministry of Labour, etc. The aim is to create jobs and develop education. So it is a collective effort that is being done by decision of the Council of Ministers since 2019. This is an achievement of the previous government."
He reiterated that the purpose of today's meeting was to assess the progress of the implementation of the actions of the ESACC and to update it. The National Strategy is extremely important for the development of mountainous areas, he stressed, adding that "this is the first time since 2019 and since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus that this emphasis has been given to the wider Troodos region. So, if we as a government went piecemeal to incentivise housing assistance, we would not get results. People not only want an incentive for housing, they also want jobs, schools, education and employment infrastructure for their children. That is why there are actions, for example, in the State Ministry of Social Welfare to set up crèches. So through this strategy, the aim is, as I mentioned, to keep people there. So it is the issue of urbanisation, but first of all to give those incentives so that even more people go to the mountains or to the countryside."
Then, asked if any answers were given by the OCYPY regarding the Troodos Hospital following the President's own findings during his recent visit to the hospital, the Interior Minister said that "strong representations were made today to the OCYPY that finally some of the projects - which I remember from my tenure at the Ministry of Interior - should go ahead and be completed. Under the YESY, he said, citizens have the option of going to any hospital of their choice, unlike residents of Troodos Communities, who only have the option of Troodos Hospital. "So they (Troodos residents) should not be considered, nor should we consider them second-class citizens. So we must immediately and today much of the discussion was taken up with the need to improve the infrastructure and certainly better staffing of the Troodos Hospital. There are, as you know, other actions that have been completed, whether this concerns ambulance stations or rural health centres. A lot of work has been done so far, but at least as far as Troodos Hospital is concerned, there is a lot that needs to be done immediately," Ioannou said.
With regard to the NSCC, the Minister explained that all Ministries and Deputy Ministries are implementing some other actions, which are not included in the national strategy. It is, he said, a living Plan and is constantly being reviewed. Towards this end, projects and actions will be considered by each Ministry so that, if approved by the Ministry of Finance, they will be included in the NAPC.
Instructions were given, he said, to the Commissioner for Mountain Community Development to hold monthly meetings with the relevant officials of the Ministries/Sub-Ministries to monitor the progress of the actions and to inform the Committee of Ministers every three months.
In response to a question from a journalist, the Minister of Interior noted that it appears that, following the various actions taken by "We can now all see the change that is taking place in the mountain areas. We have clear evidence from the Housing Plans, through which 1,500 grants have been made for housing units in these areas. The Ministry of Commerce, as part of efforts for the green transition, is running many Grant Schemes, we are seeing crafts. You can now see the revitalization and business development that exists in the mountainous areas. But let me stress once again that all this is due to the National Strategy made by the previous administration. We are continuing this successful strategy and upgrading it", Mr. Ioannou finally pointed out.
The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Interior, Education, Youth and Sports, Transport, Communications and Works, Energy, Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Labour and Social Insurance, Justice and Public Order, the Deputy Ministers to the President, Tourism and Social Welfare, the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities, as well as senior officials of the Ministries of Health, Finance and Defence, the Deputy Ministries of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and Culture, the Cyprus Sports Organisation, the Cyprus Youth Organisation and the Cyprus State Health Services Organisation.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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