4.14 Million Euros Paid Out: Balance of the Lower Austria Corona Fund
Of the applications submitted from March 8 to 11, with a volume of around seven million euros, 6,394 requests were approved, said Regional Councillor Christoph Luisser during a press conference on Monday, providing an interim report. The Freedom Party member called for a "genuine review at the federal level."
The black-blue state government established the "Lower Austria Covid Relief Fund for Corona Consequences" in 2023. Applications for support could be submitted until the end of February this year, "now the remaining applications are being processed," explained Luisser. Projects applied for by associations can be completed by the end of June 2025. According to the information, payouts will continue until the end of August. Unused funds will flow into the general budget. In the first phase, fines imposed by Lower Austrian district administrative authorities based on laws later overturned by the Constitutional Court (VfGH) were reimbursed. Then, among other things, support could be applied for in cases of long-Covid consequences and vaccination impairments, and associations were also supported.
Luisser described it as "particularly alarming" that almost half of the funds were applied for psychological and mental damages, especially among children and adolescents. According to the Regional Councillor, "a very large number of people" also reported health problems developed after the Covid injection.
Corona Fund: Luisser Rejects Court of Auditors' Criticism
Luisser also addressed criticisms from the Federal Court of Auditors in an audit report published a few days ago. The funds were not exhausted because it was ensured that every eligible person "can actually be compensated," said the Regional Councillor. Regarding the Court of Auditors' claim of a lack of "comprehensive traceable needs assessment" for the sum of 31.3 million euros, the Freedom Party member stated: "How could there have been one when we were the first federal state to take this path?" Broadly defining the criteria was "right and necessary" to include as many affected individuals as possible. Luisser described it as "particularly outrageous" that the reimbursement of administrative fines, according to the Court of Auditors, has a "legally questionable signal effect."
According to Luisser, a total of 250 applications were submitted by clubs. In some cases, approval was not granted because criteria were not met or documents were not fully submitted. Last year, numerous applications from clubs for Corona denier Martin Rutter caused a stir. Regarding individual funding applications, the regional councilor did not provide information on Monday, citing data protection among other reasons.
Criticism of "Coercive Measures" and Corona Vaccination Mandate
Almost exactly five years after the first nationwide lockdown, Luisser criticized, among other things, "coercive measures" and the now-repealed Corona vaccination mandate. "It is our duty to ensure that something like this never happens again," emphasized the Freedom Party member. "The measures of the black-green federal government have had a lasting impact on the lives of many people." The vaccinations have "caused more harm than good," said the FPÖ politician: "I am unvaccinated myself and it will stay that way."
Lower Austria has launched an initiative with the Corona Fund as the only federal state, "which not only provides financial assistance but also sends a very clear political signal: Injustice must be rectified." The federal government, on the other hand, still owes a "genuine review." It is also about "legal responsibility for the Corona injustice regime." In Lower Austria, an "independently appointed evaluation commission" is to review the pandemic period.
(APA/Red)
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