Despite the current economic situation, the Regional Government remains "committed" to supporting Azorean families, said the Regional Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity today, after a visit to the ongoing construction works of day nurseries in Arrifes and Capelas in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.

Ana Paula Marques also stated that the Azorean Government is fulfilling its investment plan for this legislative period, supporting families and particularly those in need, through these social responses.

In this context, the government official recalled that the Azorean moved ahead in the current legislative period with the construction of three new day nurseries in the municipality of Ponta Delgada: Bê-À-Bâ, Arrifes and Capelas in order to improve the social and professional situation of families and help them to juggle work with family life.

The construction of a building for a day nursery facility and a free time occupation centre and the Arrifes Social and Parish Centre, with capacity for 75 children, represents a public investment of about one million Euros. While the construction work of a day nursery, with capacity of 50 children, and home support services of the "Casa do Povo" of Capelas, with capacity for 70 elderly, is estimated at 1.5 million Euros.

Mentioning the construction of the new nursery in Ponta Delgada, Bê-À-Bâ, of the S. João de Deus Association, with capacity for 70 children, Ana Paula Marques stressed that this work is almost complete and its opening is scheduled to later this year or early next year.

With these investments, the Regional Secretary believes that the Municipality of Ponta Delgada will be provided with "the necessary infrastructures to serve families and the people who them," admitting, however, the possibility of investing in the construction of a day nursery in Paim and another infrastructure for the elderly in the village of Arrifes.

On the occasion, Ana Paula Marques also said that the Government will begin the construction of the Urban Allotment of Travessa dos Milagres, located in the parish of Arrifes, which complements the homes built there.

This project includes the installation of various equipments, including a parish centre, a local commerce unit and a community vegetable garden.