El Hierro Council Approves Key Motions for Housing, Health, and Emergencies

A call for an Island Housing Office, full operation of the hospital's URPA, and progress on a crematorium installation are among the key decisions.

Canarian volcanic landscape with the Teide in the background and lush vegetation.
IA

Canarian volcanic landscape with the Teide in the background and lush vegetation.

The Plenary of the El Hierro Council approved five crucial motions to enhance essential public services on the island, covering housing, healthcare, emergency response, and funeral services.

Among the most significant agreements is the demand to the Government of the Canary Islands and the Canary Institute of Housing to establish an Island Housing Office. This initiative, driven by the PSOE and the Mixed Group, received unanimous support from all political groups present in the Plenary.
Furthermore, a joint motion from the PSOE and the Mixed Group was unanimously approved, requesting the regional executive to align the regulations for forest and environmental agents with basic state legislation.
In the healthcare sector, the island corporation called for the full and stable operation of the Post-Anesthesia Recovery Unit (URPA) at the Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes. This proposal, presented by Agrupación Herreña (AH), was supported by the governing group, while the Agrupación Herreña Independiente abstained.
The plenary session also greenlit, unanimously, a motion from AH to advance the implementation of a crematorium in El Hierro, addressing a social demand.
Additionally, the Council backed the request for a medicalized helicopter with a permanent base on the island. The objective is to strengthen healthcare services and emergency response capabilities. The President of the Council, Alpidio Armas, highlighted the groups' willingness to reach consensus on matters of "vital importance for the people of El Hierro".
On another note, Armas expressed his opposition to fast-tracking a motion concerning the new European recreational fishing regulation, known as PescaReg, which mandates electronic registration of catches. The island president argued that this issue does not stem from a demand by the local fishing sector and that its urgent processing could create a non-existent problem.