> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Illa promises school and care-home cooling plan - URL: https://barna.news/illa-promises-school-and-care-home/ - Published: 2026-09-07T18:18:46.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-07T18:18:46.000Z - Description: The Generalitat says it will set out a programme within weeks to air-condition educational centres and nursing homes across Catalonia. - Author: Laia Serra - Tags: politics President Salvador Illa said on Monday that the Generalitat, Catalonia's regional government, will present a programme "in the coming weeks" to air-condition all educational centres and nursing homes. The proposal is intended to address high temperatures in buildings used by children and older people, whom Illa identified as priority groups for improvements to public facilities. For families, pupils and care-home residents, the announcement does not yet set out which buildings will be included, when works would begin or how they would be funded. Illa said the government was working with local councils and examining private-sector collaboration to deliver the scheme quickly. > "This issue is a priority, and the country must make an effort," Illa said in an interview with Catalunya Ràdio. He said one in four of Catalonia's 2,500 schools was built before 1965, a total of about 625 buildings. The Generalitat has not yet published the promised programme. --- ## Existing funding for school improvements Illa linked the cooling proposal to a €100 million package for renovation, adaptation and improvement works at public schools, agreed with the Catalan Federation of Municipalities and the Catalan Association of Municipalities. He said this had increased the Generalitat's education-infrastructure renewal budget from €34 million to €134 million. Separately, the [European Investment Bank's Catalunya Education Infrastructure project](https://www.eib.org/en/projects/all/20230174?ref=barna.news), signed on 20 June 2024, provides a €100 million loan to the Generalitat for renovating, extending and building public education facilities. The bank lists the wider project cost at €219 million. --- ## Teaching unions called a strike for Tuesday The announcement was made a day before the start of the 2026-27 school year and a strike called by teaching unions USTEC and CGT for Tuesday, 8 September. Illa said workers had a basic right to strike, while arguing that this was compatible with pupils' right to education and mobility. > "The government's purpose is to open a debate on what education the country needs," Illa said, naming public authorities, parents and student representatives among those he wanted involved. He also referred to a €2.6 billion agreement with the other unions represented at the sectoral negotiating table, Comisiones Obreras, UGT and Aspepc. According to Illa, the agreement covers higher teacher pay, smaller class sizes, more reception classrooms for newly arrived pupils, additional special education centres, more professional staff and infrastructure improvements. --- *Primary sources:* [*Generalitat de Catalunya*](https://govern.cat/salapremsa/?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by elplural.com, worldpressa.com, en.ara.cat, eib.org, barna.news, catalannews.com, bakermckenzie.com.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Salvador Illa begins 48-hour trip to Ukraine](https://barna.news/salvador-illa-begins-48-hour-trip-to/) - [Catalan Government Unveils Diada 2026 Poster Without Senyera](https://barna.news/catalan-government-unveils-diada-2026-poster-without-senyera/) - [Catalonia financing reform meeting set for 4 September](https://barna.news/catalonia-financing-reform-meeting-set/) - [Illa orders fast-track action on housing and education](https://barna.news/illa-orders-fast-track-action-on-housing-and-education/)