Special Social Care
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
Date: 2025-10-08 15:58
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 18
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 18/18 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
MP Helmen Kütt submitted a formal inquiry to Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the state of special welfare services, highlighting the sector's underfunding, low wages (average gross salary of €1,150–€1,250), and long service queues (1,000 people are currently waiting for services). Kütt referenced an audit by the National Audit Office, which found that the established service prices cover only 60% of the actual costs, thereby forcing local governments to fulfill state obligations. She asked what steps the government planned to take to resolve the situation and what advice it would offer to local governments that have been forced to resort to legal action. Prime Minister Michal responded by emphasizing the significant growth in the special welfare budget—by 2026, it will reach 57.7 million euros, a 154% increase compared to 2015. Michal confirmed that despite the state budget deficit, special welfare is one of five priority areas receiving additional funds (€4.2 million) for wage increases. He added that the Ministry of Social Affairs is working to streamline the service queues to ensure that those with greater needs gain faster access to services. In a supplementary question, Madis Kallas asked the Prime Minister to articulate the main problem facing special welfare, to which Michal replied that the current additional funding primarily addresses the issues of employee salaries and economic sustainability.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Helmen Kütt (a Member of the Riigikogu) was the most active questioner, bringing up the results of the National Audit Office's audit and the low wages of special care workers. She represents the opposition (other).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the fifth item on the agenda—a question concerning special care services to be posed by Riigikogu member Helmen Kütt to Prime Minister Kristen Michal—and then gave the floor to the questioner.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the fifth item on the agenda was a question addressed to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, which Riigikogu member Helmen Kütt would present regarding special care services, and he invited Kütt to the podium.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt raised a critical question regarding the chronic underfunding of specialized welfare, stressing that despite the state's obligations, the gross salaries of workers in this sector (1,150–1,250 euros) are inadequate. Furthermore, 1,000 people in need are currently receiving home care due to a lack of available service spots, which in turn prevents their family caregivers from entering the workforce. She demanded concrete solutions from the Prime Minister to address this crisis, which has been brought to attention by both the State Audit Office's audit and a recent demonstration by sector employees.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt highlighted the low gross salaries of special welfare workers, noting that they barely keep pace with the rising cost of living. She also criticized the government for underfunding special welfare services, citing both the State Audit Office's audit and a recent protest. She then asked the Prime Minister what specific measures would be taken to resolve the situation where 1,000 people requiring services are stuck at home under the care of family members, thereby preventing those caregivers from returning to the workforce and contributing as taxpayers.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal provided an overview of the significant growth in special welfare funding, underscoring that the budget has increased by 154% since the tenure of the former Minister of Social Protection (2014–2015), reaching 57.7 million euros by 2026. He pointed out that despite the state budget deficit, special welfare is one of the few sectors that received an additional 4.2 million euros earmarked for the agreed-upon wage increase. The goal is to retain employees and improve the quality of the service, even though this funding does not solve the shortage of service places. He also confirmed that the Ministry of Social Affairs is working on streamlining the waiting lists, and the budget strategy provides for additional funding in the coming years as well.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal provided a comprehensive overview of the significant growth in funding for special care services, emphasizing that the sector’s budget has increased by 154% since 2015 and is projected to reach 57.7 million euros by 2026. He further confirmed that, despite the state budget deficit, an additional 4.2 million euros has been allocated for salary increases for special care workers in order to improve service quality and retain specialists. Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Affairs plans to continue streamlining service waiting lists, and the state budget strategy provides for an additional 16.8 million euros in funding for the years 2026–2029.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked them and then gave the floor to Helmen Kütt so she could ask a clarifying question.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt draws attention to the National Audit Office's audit, according to which state funding for special welfare covers only 60% of the actual costs. As a result, waiting lists have doubled, and local governments are forced to cover the costs of the state service. She is demanding clear guidance from the Prime Minister on how local governments should proceed in fulfilling state obligations, particularly in a situation where special welfare workers are compelled to protest.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt criticized the Prime Minister's response, citing the National Audit Office's report, which indicated that the established prices for special welfare services cover only 60% of the actual costs. This shortfall has doubled waiting lists between 2018 and 2024 and forced local municipalities to cover state obligations. She now demands a clear recommendation from the Prime Minister regarding what local governments should do in a situation where they are performing duties assigned by the state.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explains that despite the country's strained finances, the poor state of the economy, and the large increase in defense spending, the budget for the sector in question has grown by 30 million euros over the last ten years. She notes that this area is a priority, receiving additional funding (including for salary increases), while the Ministry of Social Affairs is actively working to streamline service queues so that those most in need can receive help faster.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that despite the state's limited resources, economic hardships, and the significant growth in defense expenditures, the budget for special welfare services has increased by 30 million euros over the past ten years. She noted that the sector remains a priority, receiving additional funding for staff salary increases alongside teachers, rescue workers, and police officers. Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Affairs continues to streamline service queues to ensure that those with the greatest need receive assistance more quickly.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and then gave the floor to colleague Madis Kallas, who posed a follow-up question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and, acting as moderator, handed the floor over to his colleague Madis Kallas so that he could ask a follow-up question.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas highlighted the complex and deepening problems of special care, such as employee overload, low wages, and the unequal availability of services in rural areas, and asked the Prime Minister, as the head of government, to articulate what he views as the main problem of special care and what its possible solution could be.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas raises the issue of the difficult situation facing special welfare services, citing overworked staff, low wages, and the unequal accessibility of services, particularly in rural areas. He asks the Prime Minister, as the head of the government, to articulate what he believes is the main problem in this sector and what the potential solution might be.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explained that the additional funding allocated to special care services is directed toward solving the issue of employee wages and financial stability, thus enabling a pay raise. She stressed that although improving these services will inevitably require even greater funding in the future, the current focus is squarely on ensuring the financial well-being of the employees.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explained that although the initial question was too general, the additional funding allocated to the special care sector is primarily aimed at raising employees' salaries and improving their financial well-being. She emphasized that a more precise question should be posed to receive a more detailed answer, and added that even larger sums will be required in the future to expand and improve these services.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the consideration of today's fifth agenda item, expressing his thanks.