The construction of a treatment centre in Garðabær stalled over 100 million ISK, which the municipality wanted the state to pay for building rights and road construction fees. The Ministry of Finance rejected this, arguing it could set a precedent.
There is no sign of progress on the new treatment centre in Garðabær, as construction came to a halt over one hundred million krónur that the municipality wanted the state to cover for building rights fees (60 million) and road construction fees (40 million).
The Ministry of Finance said this was out of the question, as it could create a precedent for other projects.
A declaration of intent for the construction of the treatment centre was signed in 2018. In March last year, Barna- og fjölskyldustofa (the Children and Family Agency) made it clear they did not wish to wait any longer.
According to documents from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Children, the construction of the treatment centre stalled due to negotiations between the Ministry of Finance and Garðabær.
Garðabær wanted the state to pay 60 million for building rights and 40 million for road construction fees, amounting to just over 100 million krónur in total. The Ministry of Finance said this was impossible.
Funi Sigurðsson, director of the treatment division at the Children and Family Agency, said it was regrettable that money should be the obstacle.
My personal opinion is that money should not stop these matters. I just believe we need to do whatever is necessary for the children in this situation,” said Funi. “We are dealing with the most vulnerable group of all here, and I think we should do everything we can to protect them.
He expressed disappointment that the issue had not been resolved, with each party pointing fingers at the other.
Of course, it’s incredibly frustrating, and in the meantime, we are just waiting and have been stuck in this waiting mode for quite a long time.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Education and Children decided they would no longer wait and chose to move the project to the Skálatún site in Mosfellsbær.
In March last year, Funi sent an email to the National Property Agency and the ministry, saying he did not want to wait for Garðabær any longer. However, those messages do not seem to have reached the municipality.
Funi says he is certain that a new treatment centre will be built, wherever that may be.
I can’t quite say where this treatment centre will ultimately be built, but I have full confidence that it will be built.
Source: Ruv.is
