News item | 19-09-2023 | 3:30 PM
A higher rental allowance, more affordable new-build homes and a lower energy bill by investing in sustainability. Tackling poverty in the Caribbean Netherlands and investing in the regions. With these measures, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is working on a good basis for residents of the Kingdom.
Rent allowance increased
As a purchasing power measure for the lowest incomes, the government is increasing the housing allowance by more than €30 per month. About 1.5 million households, including 300,000 families, will receive extra support in paying their monthly costs. The government has reserved €750 million for this.
Sufficient and affordable housing
Too many people in the Netherlands have difficulty finding affordable housing. The demand for housing is increasing, also because the population is growing. At the same time, the conditions for building have become more difficult. Construction costs are rising and interest rates have risen. A dip in housing construction is inevitable, but construction must remain at the highest possible pace. That is why significant investments are being made in the construction of affordable new homes via the Start Building Impulse and the sixth tranche of the Housing Building Impulse. The Start Construction Impulse will be increased from €250 million to €300 million. In this way, projects that are in danger of getting stuck due to changing economic circumstances can be restarted. Applicants will receive the results this year. €300 million has been allocated for the sixth tranche of the Housing Development Incentive. The projects that will receive money for this will be announced before the summer of next year.
Investing in the regions
From the report ‘Every region counts!’ it has become apparent that the government has invested for too long in areas that are already strong in recent decades, which led to undesirable differences between regions and the feeling that the government is not there for everyone. That is why the government is conducting discussions with residents, local authorities, companies and social organizations to identify as specifically as possible what can be improved. This includes, for example, the distribution of government employment, how policy works out for specific regions and the way in which the cabinet makes choices about infrastructure, accessibility, healthcare and education, for example.
To tackle these important tasks in the Netherlands, the government and regions already work closely together on the Regional Deals. That is also why the government has reserved an amount of €216.6 million for a new round of Regional Deals in 2024. The fifth round of Regional Deals is currently open and regions can submit proposals until October 31, 2023. €84.6 million is available for this tranche. The government has reserved a total of €900 million for three rounds of Regional Deals during this cabinet period. The regions themselves also contribute financially.
More purchasing power in the Caribbean Netherlands
One in three residents in the Caribbean Netherlands lives in poverty. That is why this government will allocate €30 million in 2024 to improve the purchasing power of the residents of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. From 2025, this amount will be increased to €32 million annually.
The money will go, among other things, to increasing benefits in the Caribbean Netherlands in 2024, the exact increase of which is still being determined. With this, the government is taking important steps to achieve a social minimum on Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. Child benefit will also increase, by $90 per child, per month. This is in line with the ambition to halve child poverty by 2025. The government will also maintain the energy allowance and the subsidy for the fixed costs of electricity and the fixed rate for drinking water and the connection costs for the internet will be further reduced. In addition, extra money goes every year to better public transport and lower transport costs.
Strong democracy
The early House of Representatives election will take place on Wednesday, November 22, and voters can cast their votes. Organizing reliable, verifiable and transparent elections in a short time demands a lot from municipalities responsible for their organization. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations will be working on the organization in the coming weeks together with municipalities and other parties involved, such as the Electoral Council. Democracy is more than casting your vote. Our democracy is a precious asset and it is therefore necessary to constantly look at where things can be improved or where reinforcement is needed. That is why the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is working on various bills to protect, renew and maintain our democratic constitutional state. Due to an increase in aggression, intimidation and undermining influences, administrators, politicians and civil servants increasingly require protection. This is unacceptable. In the coming year, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations will therefore allocate €10 million to make our public administration more resilient. In total, this will amount to €100 million over ten years. Together with municipalities, provinces and water boards, we are expanding the current Safe Living Regulations. The Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations wants all decentralized administrators, such as mayors, deputies and water board directors, to be able to receive tailor-made security advice with a more extensive package of preventive measures for their home as of January 1, 2024.
Strong digital society
Developments in the field of generative Artificial Intelligence follow each other in rapid succession. That is why the Cabinet is considering a ‘rapid response teamto address this development. This concerns opportunities to innovate and experiment as well as safeguarding human rights. In addition to the Dutch commitment to better protect children online through European legislation, the government will also focus on instruments for developers, educators and children, good supervision and a public campaign in the coming year. The government remains committed to ensuring that everyone can participate digitally. This happens at information points in the library and the government will also work with government service providers. These help people to arrange matters with the government.