The Socialist Group on Lanzarote’s Cabildo has raised concerns over the unutilised Insular Inclusion Centre, located in the former Daos school in Puerto del Carmen. Despite the council paying €20,000 a month in rent, the facility has remained largely inactive for much of its first year.
Ariagona González, the Socialist spokesperson, highlighted that when adding IGIC tax and associated operational costs, the total expenditure is around €20,000 monthly, amounting to approximately €300,000 since the contract began. She questioned the value of spending such a considerable sum on a resource that lacks a stable public programme for the intended individuals and groups.
“Each month, €20,000 is drawn from public funds for a building that Oswaldo Betancort’s government has failed to utilise effectively. They made grand announcements about its potential but the centre has remained dormant without any real activities for vulnerable groups,” González lamented.
According to the Socialist Group’s statement, the contract stipulated that the property was to serve as a multipurpose space for training, guidance, and job placement for vulnerable communities in Lanzarote and La Graciosa. It was also intended to support social entities and become a hub for inclusion-related projects.
González described the first year’s outcome as a “management failure.” While the space has been occasionally lent to various associations, she emphasised that this does not equate to an actual public programme. “A year on, there’s still no evidence of a functional resource that meets the real needs of people with disabilities, their families, and other vulnerable groups,” she stated.
Attempted Purchase Before Rental
González noted that the Cabildo initially considered purchasing the site and even commissioned a valuation. However, negotiations with the property owner fell through, leading to the decision to rent.
“After failing to agree on a purchase, they chose to pay a high rent. This required a solid project and a comprehensive plan from day one. They’ve been paying for months while the building has remained nearly empty,” she explained.
She questioned why the government, led by CC and PP, committed to this significant financial burden without a clear operational model or defined resources and strategies for the centre.
The Socialist Group brought this matter up during the last Cabildo meeting. González reported that the responsible councillor provided a vague response and failed to clarify what had occurred during the centre’s first year, offering only a general statement about future plans. “There’s no clarity on what has been done so far, and no detailed information about activities in 2025. They’ve only announced what they intend to do moving forward,” she concluded.
