In the future the amount of the family housing benefit (csok) will increase in settlements with a population of less than five thousand, and the government is planning a considerable increase also in the case of used properties in those communities, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday in the context of the launch of the Hungarian Villages Programme.

Gergely Gulyás stressed the objective of the government is to popularise the village lifestyle, and to ensure that moving to the provinces does not result in a decline in living standards.

In the case of newly-built properties, construction projects which pay attention to local specificities and features will be eligible for further benefits, he said listing the anticipated changes, adding that during this term of Parliament a programme will be launched for the development of culture and the construction of playgrounds and sports facilities. The cabinet wishes to create possibilities for the development of these small communities, he stressed, and also mentioned that they will set up a fund for the development of the network of minor roads.

They are planning special programmes for small settlements where population decline has exceeded the national average, he added.

He pointed out that “if everything goes well”, a significant percentage of the budgetary reserve may be used for the Hungarian Villages Programme next year. Alpár Gyopáros working at the Prime Minister’s Office as a government commissioner is responsible for the programme, and the first calls for proposals will be published at the beginning of next year.

He also informed the press that the cabinet will decide on increasing the rate of the home care fee in the autumn, indicating that there will be an increase.

In answer to a question, he also said that – according to his information – Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós has not yet made a definitive decision about whether he will intend to run in the next municipal elections.

The government takes care of the availability of the conditions necessry for providing patient care in every hospital, he said in answer to another question, stressing that the responsible ministry clearly denied news reports that this will not be the case in some institutions from September.

In answer to another question, he denied press reports that the House of Fates would be merged with the Holocaust Memorial Centre.

He also said he believes it is not realistic that the number of those working in the public sector could be reduced by a hundred thousand. He highlighted that there will be no general redundancies; they will assess how many people are required to perform the individual responsibilities.

(MTI)