News

26 May 2025

The Ombudsman Institution approached the Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova on account of numerous complaints from parents of children about months-long delays and unpaid compensations for the costs of children who were rejected placement because of shortages in state-run and municipal nurseries and kindergartens in the area that is under the jurisdiction of the Sofia Municipality.

In his letter to Minister Petkova, the Secretary General of the Ombudsman Dr. Aysun Avdjiev draws attention to the fact that the parents express their discontent that the compensations due for January and February 2025 have not yet been paid, which, in their words, confronts them with serious difficulties. He points out that “reports have been submitted by parents to the relevant competent institutions – the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Council of Ministers, but there has been no official response to date.”

“Parents request “an inspection of the case by the institutions in order to clarify the reasons for the delay; they require a clear and public commitment by the competent institutions to the time limits of the payments and enablement of the law-abiding fulfilment of the government’s obligations to citizens, so that the money to reimburse the costs are transferred on time,” the Secretary General writes.

“I am aware that the transfers of compensations from the budgets of municipalities are subject to a decision of the Council of Ministers in line with the procedure as provided for by the Public Finance Act and for this year these were approved by a cabinet Ordinance No. 43 of 30 April 2025. Given the complaints, I am writing to you to request an opinion of competence regarding the delayed payment of compensations for costs under the said Ordinance,” Dr. Avdjiev concludes.