Social Ministry Seeks 200 Million Over Next Four Years

The Social Ministry has appealed to the government to allocate an additional 200 million over the next four years. Currently, more than 800 people in Estonia are waiting for a place in a residential care facility. The additional funding would help address chronic underfunding in the care system.

The Social Ministry has submitted a request to the government to allocate an additional 200 million over the next four years for the development of care services. The ministry points out that currently more than 800 people in Estonia wish to enter residential care facilities immediately but cannot do so due to a lack of available spaces.

Residential care provides daily support and housing services for people with special needs — including those with intellectual disabilities, mental health disorders, or other severe disabilities. The current situation, where hundreds of people are waiting for assistance, shows that existing capacity cannot meet actual demand.

The requested 200 million is intended primarily for creating new service places and developing existing infrastructure. The ministry hopes that government support will enable significant improvement over the next four years and help those people who currently lack assistance.

Estonia's social care system funding has been one of the central issues in government budget debates in recent years, as the aging population continues to increase the number of those needing care. If the request is approved, it would represent one of the largest investments directed to residential care in the coming years.