Scandals in Catalonia's child protection services, the DGAIA case, have prompted opposition accusations against Salvador Illa's government for blocking probes into irregularities previously handled by ERC. A Sindicatura de Cuentas report uncovers undue payments of 167.56 million euros from 2016 to 2024, including 4.7 million from DGAIA. Illa defends his administration and announces changes for greater transparency.
In the latest control session of the Govern in the Parlament, parties like PP, Vox, CUP, and Aliança Catalana accused the PSC-led executive of obstructing the probe into DGAIA's management, overseen mostly by ERC from 2016 to 2024. President Salvador Illa responded angrily: "I am not covering anything up nor do I need to, but I will not give credence to false complaints and insinuations." Regarding the CUP's interpellation on a protected witness who reported irregular payments, Illa added: "If there are people denouncing things done wrong in the past, they should not hide behind a mask; they should report it where they should."
A social educator alerted the Síndic de Greuges and the Anti-Fraud Office about undue DGAIA payments to former tutored youth who did not meet requirements. The Sindicatura de Cuentas report from June identified 167.56 million euros in irregular social benefits, of which 7.17 million were prescribed, and 4.7 million directly from DGAIA in aids like guaranteed income or dependency benefits. A prior November 2024 report highlighted irregularities in emergency contracting from 2016 to 2020.
The Govern pushed reforms, including the dismissal in March of director Isabel Carrasco and subdirector Joan Mayoral, and a name change to DGPPIA in June. Councilor Mònica Martínez Bravo stated: "It is about leaving DGAIA behind, refounding it to make it more effective." The Anti-Fraud Office is investigating potential liabilities in awards to entities like the UTE Fundació Mercè Fontanilles-Fundació Resilis and Plataforma Educativa, which managed over 300 million euros from 2016 to 2023. The Prosecutor's Office shows interest, and the Court of Accounts opened proceedings in October. A parliamentary commission was created that month to investigate the case.
