Allocations to Municipalities
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-11-13 15:04
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The sixth question addressed subsidies to municipalities and related reforms in the education sector. The Ministry of Education and the Estonian Union of Education Employees have reached an agreement to create or restore a teacher career model that takes into account teacher workload and qualifications, through increasing the differentiation fund. It is planned to increase the share of the differentiation fund from 20% to 22% compared to the salary fund in 2026, and to further increase it to 24% in 2027-2028. It is important to note that this fund does not apply to vocational schools; therefore, the career model and funding for their teachers remain unresolved and additional adjustments will need to be stipulated. The question was also raised as to whether the government has provided guarantees that the necessary sums will be available in subsequent years, and municipal leaders have responded through the media that no such guarantees are known to them and no decision has been made. The budget process next year was intended to establish the principles of funding, and this work will continue.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions regarding the question at hand were not made; the basis for funding and specific instruments must be confirmed in the next budget period and within the budget process. The details of funding for the education sector and the identification of potential additional sums must take place through the draft budget and the state budget procedure next year.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker: Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform Party). She represented the implementation of the coalition agreement and topics related to the funding of the education sector, explained the importance of the budget process, and provided an overview of the intentions for the education sector and possible sources of funding. Position: right-wing (the promoting Reform Party).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
A Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas asked Prime Minister Kristen Michal a question about allocations to municipalities.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas noted that under an agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Estonian Education Workers' Union, the differentiation fund will be increased for 2026–2028 (by 22% and 24%), but it will not be extended to vocational schools, and there is a funding problem for implementing the career model, and he asked whether the government has decided that the necessary sums will be available for the coming years.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The prime minister explains that to implement the Ministry of Education's four-year teacher career model, an additional 7–11 million euros per year are needed, which must be found either from sector cuts or salary adjustments, and the funding bases will be fixed in the budget process that starts next year.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Tõnis Lukas a clarifying question.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas welcomes the restoration of the career model, but stresses that funding it from the payroll fund, using internal resources, and the lack of guarantees erode trust, and that in future budget negotiations the minister must be more proactive, and the government must grant signing authority on behalf of the municipalities for the agreement.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that last year the actual average salary of teachers was 119.6% of the Estonian average salary, and if the state implements the planned 10% cuts (excluding pensions, defense capability and internal security, and teachers), it will be possible to raise salaries in 2026, and due to the increase in the salary fund, the Minister of Education himself can redistribute the money.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
In the speech, gratitude is expressed, and a further question is asked to be directed to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme criticizes that the government does not resolve the liberal interpretation of freedom of speech, nor does it intend to bring the hate-speech law to the Riigikogu, and at the same time he notes concerns about the medical system where county hospitals are closed or operate poorly and the availability of first aid and specialists is limited.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The message is simple and clear: Now is your time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme emphasizes that people are being transported by ambulance to Tallinn or Tartu, which is an abnormal situation, and the government must take action.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Lauri Hussar thanks and asks the prime minister for something.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed the importance of freedom and media freedom, promised to discuss in the near future the health sector plan and the preparation of new health centers, and stated that in the distribution of services, necessary choices must be made to ensure high-quality and as rapid access as possible, while increasing investments and defense spending, and that the discussion of the health plan in the government will be clearly explained to the public before the end of the year.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and announces that he will conclude the consideration of today's sixth question.