Finance Committee weighs travel subsidy and parental leave IT funding

Faroese broadcaster KVF reports that the Finance Committee will consider proposals to increase this year’s travel subsidy and provide additional funding for a new IT system for the parental leave scheme.

The committee will consider a total of 7.5 million kroner on Thursday morning. The finance minister, the minister for social and housing affairs and TAKS have been called to give evidence.

The parties Sjálvstýri and Tjóðveldi want to increase the travel subsidy by 1,100 kroner this year. They say the measure would cost the public treasury 5 million kroner.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing is asking Parliament for an additional 2.5 million kroner to develop the parental leave scheme’s IT system. A total of 11 million kroner has already been allocated.

The 2024 implementation law, which is due to expire on January 1, 2027, would also be extended to January 1, 2028. This would allow TAKS to continue developing the IT system without interruption.

The ministry says uninterrupted work is important because a pause would increase the cost of the project.