2023-06-27 15:28:38
Finance, Economy, Labour, International Affairs and Wiener Stadtwerke business group and City of Vienna funding report 2022
Vienna (OTS / RK) – The executive city councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) thanked him for the “intense seven hours of discussion” on his department. It was good that all the topics in the debate had been brought together. Hanke also thanked all MPs who are represented on the finance committee. With Corona, war and inflation, the work has never been so intense. Together they have “delivered an infinite amount” for Vienna as a business location.
Advising the Education, Youth, Integration and Transparency business group
At the beginning of his contribution to the debate, GR Stefan Berger (FPÖ) quoted media reports on problems in the field of education and criticized the “mandatory veggie day” in Viennese schools. The City Councilor for Education should concentrate on specific problems “instead of getting bogged down in menu issues,” said Berger. If the city government wants to do something for the climate, it should prevent fertile agricultural land from having to give way to the Rothneusiedl urban development area. There are also repeated protests in kindergarten and compulsory school. However, these were not treated with the necessary seriousness. Berger continued to criticize “keywords and empty phrases” that he knew had little substance. Berger also called for greater intervention by the city in the area of German classes. There are a large number of students in Vienna who are not able to follow German as the language of instruction. Vienna is “a special place” in this area. In the area of human resources, Berger reminded that solutions should be sustainable. So far, many measures in this regard have “fizzled out” because inflows and outflows have canceled each other out. Better conditions must be created here in order to be able to improve the situation for the better. In many parts of the city you can see the consequences of a “failed migration policy,” Berger continued. Anyone who lives in Vienna and Austria “after years and decades” but has “neither settled down intellectually nor politically” should not be granted Austrian citizenship. This should be awarded at the end of an integration process, not the other way around. The subject of transparency, assessed Berger in the department as “non-existent”. This was not least seen in the context of the commission of inquiry into the Wien Energie case, concluded Berger.
Grin Mag. Bettina Emmerling, MSc was “always surprised” by the previous speaker at how excited it was when no meat was to be served in Viennese schools on one day of the week. Emmerling thanked all municipal departments and all employees who had done a lot for the success of Viennese education and integration in recent years. The most important issue for a happy life is education, according to Emmerling. A lot has been invested in education in Vienna in recent years. No other federal state can keep up with Vienna when it comes to childcare. More than 100,000 children are looked after in the municipal kindergartens and after-school care centers. Emmerling would also like to thank the city’s educational staff. 100 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 6 would have a place in Vienna. In addition, a lot is being invested in modern infrastructure in Vienna – for example in the area of broadband connections. In addition, a “comprehensive strategy” for the integration of children with disabilities is currently being worked on. The lack of staff is not only an issue in school, but also in kindergarten. The lack of qualified personnel is slowing down some of the city government’s projects. The city therefore invests in the training of new specialists. Vienna does not wait for solutions at federal level, but acts on its own. Pupils deserve the best infrastructure at schools, which is why the city invests a lot in the conversion and expansion of Viennese educational institutions, according to Emmerling. Emmerling called the distribution of competences in the field of education “an obstacle”. Nevertheless, wherever possible, Vienna makes a name for itself with trend-setting projects such as the Vienna Education Promise or the Vienna Educational Opportunities. These are a great and unbureaucratic relief for parents and teachers. One can be proud of what has been achieved in Vienna.
GRin MMag. Julia Malle (GRÜNE) pointed out that many problems in the field of education are still current – as a teacher she can report on them first-hand. The expansion of the technical infrastructure and the free lunch are to be welcomed, said Malle. The personnel situation in the education system is still critical, she emphasized. The Education City Council lacks commitment when it comes to showing teachers more appreciation in the form of improvements in everyday work. The money for “image projects” such as the promise of education is better off with the schools themselves. In the area of kindergartens, there is a lack of plan and perspective. Elementary teachers are far too busy with tasks such as cleaning and administration to be able to adequately pursue their pedagogical tasks. She expects “nothing unrealistic”, but ideas to enable smaller groups, better care ratios and higher salaries. Malle named inclusion as the third major point. Vienna must do more to include children with disabilities in schools where it is responsible. There must be an end to the “admiration for problems”, concluded Malle.
GRin Mag. Caroline Hungerländer (ÖVP) summarized the integration policy of recent years as follows: “City councilor Wiederkehr is not an integration politician”. This can be seen from the fact that there is no vision in integration policy. As an example, Hungerländer recalled the lack of reaction to celebrations marking President Erdogan’s election victory. She misses a policy in which the requirements for migrants and sanctions for non-compliance are clearly formulated. There is no society in the world in which such a type of integration policy has not led to segregation. Hungerländer also referred to the federal government’s segregation report. In any case, she does not want Vienna favorites to be mentioned in the same breath as Berlin-Kreuzberg in the future. It is therefore also necessary for politicians to build a bridge between urban planning and integration. Offers from the City of Vienna would primarily reach those who wanted to integrate anyway. All others would not be reached. Hungerländer demands that questions should be asked about how to deal with the large number of young men who have moved to Germany and which integration measures should be implemented for this group. She demanded that the city government “finally recognize” that political Islam poses a danger in the city. As an example, she cited the allegedly planned attack on the Pride parade. Warnings should not be ignored – it is the task of politics to take information and define appropriate measures. Hostility toward Christians named starving countries as an equally big problem. A clear signal should be sent, in particular by protecting Christians who have fled to Vienna. Most recently, hungry countries criticized the “trans trend”, which is being fueled by politics. The question to be asked is whether this development is good for young people and whether identity politics is good for society. The political scientist Francis Fukuyama once warned against the latter. Trends such as the trans issue among young people should also be treated as such and should not be “fueled” by municipal subsidies and the gift of puberty blockers to young people, Hungerländer continued. Hungerländer expressed appreciation for the fact that NEOS practiced transparency in their area of responsibility. (cont.) jaz
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