Government puts children and vulnerable groups at centre of winter agenda

Iceland’s government plans to introduce the country’s first comprehensive action plan against child poverty, a nationwide youth policy and higher age limits for social media access, mbl.is reported. Education and Children’s Minister Inga Sæland said children, older people and those living in the most difficult circumstances would be the government’s priorities this winter.

Sæland outlined her main priorities at a press conference held by the governing parties at the ministers’ residence, where the government presented its agenda for the coming parliamentary session.

“The system must catch children earlier,” Sæland said, stressing that responsibilities must be clear and that no child should be lost between institutions or levels of administration.

She said the government would present Iceland’s first comprehensive action plan against child poverty. Children, she said, chose neither their parents nor their economic circumstances or home environment. No child should have to go to bed hungry or be excluded because of poverty.

Screening for violence among primary school children

Sæland also announced the country’s first comprehensive youth policy and legislation raising the age limit for access to social media.

She said a detailed action plan for education was also being prepared. Measures would include systematic screening for violence among primary school children.

“The system must see them, listen to them and intervene immediately,” Sæland said.

Government aims to eliminate waiting lists

Sæland said almost 1,400 nursing home places were currently being developed. Agreements had been signed and the projects were under way.

Including all planned places, 1,507 were on the drawing board, of which about 1,400 were new, she said. The aim was to ensure that no one was waiting when the government’s nursing home construction programme was complete.

She added that the very few older people who might be placed in temporary waiting accommodation would never be left alone at home.

A new assessment unit in the emergency department at Landspítali, Iceland’s national hospital, would also improve patient flow through rapid and accurate assessments and reduce unnecessary waiting, Sæland said. More Icelanders would also be guaranteed a permanent family doctor.

Pensions to be linked to wage index

Sæland said a Christmas one-off payment for older people and disabled people in the most difficult financial circumstances would continue. The payment is 74,000 Icelandic krónur, and the aim is for it to remain in place until a minimum subsistence level of 450,000 krónur has been reached.

She also strongly emphasised a planned link between disability and old-age pensions and the wage index. The change is due to take effect on January 1 and is intended to counter what Sæland described as an erosion of living standards among these groups.

The government also plans to change the rules on rent increases tied to the index. Under the proposed rules, an index-linked rent increase could occur only once during any 12-month period.

“The common thread is clear. We will stand with our children, families, disabled people and older people,” Sæland said. “We will catch the children before they fall.”