The plan was for it to be announced on Wednesday who will run the Salzburg women’s shelters from July 2021. Regional Councilor Andrea Klambauer informed on Tuesday that the award would be further delayed, because one of the bidders appealed against the recommendation of the selection committee. The regional administrative court must now decide on this objection. Until then, no official announcement is possible, and Klambauer is not allowed to comment on details and content-related criticism of the result of the tender.
Klambauer: “Award was exemplary”
“The independent commission of experts worked first-class, detailed and precise. The tender and the entire awarding process were exemplary. The best concept from the point of view of the expert commission has prevailed. In this way, from mid-2021, together with the women’s department, the best care for women at risk of violence and their children will be guaranteed across the entire state, ”says Klambauer.
Reorganization was fraught with criticism
Klambauer expects a valid legal verdict within the next two months. In any case, she was satisfied with the selection of the expert selection committee, emphasized the state councilor. The new operator is to take over the Salzburg women’s shelters in summer 2021. The reorganization of women’s shelters has been heavily criticized in recent months. It was criticized that a structure built up over decades would be destroyed, more than two dozen employees lose their jobs, criticize the previous operators. The SPÖ and FPÖ in the state parliament also called on Klambauer several times to reverse the new tender.
Existing houses with 27 places
The two existing women’s shelters in Salzburg and Hallein currently have 27 places. Part of this is to be converted into accommodations with lower security levels in the future. Klambauer also wants at least one more women’s shelter in the country. In addition to the two institutions, there is currently a women’s refuge in Pinzgau, which was not affected by the new tender.
SPÖ criticizes Klambauer violently
The SPÖ in Salzburg exercised heavy criticism on Tuesday after the award delay became known. SPÖ Social Councilor Anja Hagenauer describes it as an intolerable situation, especially now before Christmas. “We have been waiting for solutions for almost a year now and State Councilor Klambauer was resistant to advice from experts during the entire process. She bears full responsibility for the women, who will soon be defenseless and harmed because the regional councilor has advertised in a manner that is unique in Austria and has broken down the women’s shelters without any need, ”Hagenauer criticizes.
SPÖ fears care gaps
Karin Dollinger, member of the SPÖ state parliament, also joined in the criticism. She repeatedly asked the Salzburg state parliament to raise questions about the reorganization of women’s shelters. “Now the situation is culminating in the fact that the responsible court is also coming under pressure if it wants to prevent a care gap from occurring,” says Dollinger, referring to the unresolved situation between the closure of both women’s shelters in June 2021 and the timely reopening a new operator. Hagenauer and Dollinger called on Klambauer on Tuesday to act immediately in order to be able to guarantee a seamless transition between the previous women’s shelters and the newly organized facilities.
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