Canary Islands Government invests over €4 million to launch Municipal Justice Offices
The Presidency, Public Administration, Justice and Security Department of the Canary Islands Government has allocated more than €4 million to establish the Municipal Justice Offices (OJM).
During a visit to the OJM facilities in Antigua and Tuineje on Fuerteventura, regional minister Nieves Lady Barreto highlighted the effort made to implement the Organic Efficiency Law 1/2025 of the Public Justice Service. She reminded that the autonomous communities have had to fully bear the cost of applying this law to first‑instance courts, doing so in record time and without any financial contribution from the Ministry, a burden that has exceeded €13 million.
One of the law’s key measures is the conversion of peace courts into municipal justice offices, expanding their functions to bring justice services closer to citizens.
Funding Distribution
- The Canary Islands Government has distributed €4 million among the 69 municipalities that have OJM, using a fixed component plus a variable amount based on population.
- The Presidency Department has also covered the provision of technological equipment, costing up to €500,000 to date.
Personnel and Resources
- 38 OJM (those serving municipalities with more than 7,000 inhabitants) have been staffed with 111 civil servants, while the remaining offices rely on municipal personnel.
- Three OJM—including Antigua, which now adds a manager, a processor and a judicial assistant—have, for the first time, justice‑administration staff. Similar staffing already exists in Tuineje, Pájara, and La Oliva.
“We have already made a great effort to unblock a project as important as the future Palace of Justice, which will finally become a reality thanks to coordination with the Puerto del Rosario City Council,” said the President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura.
The President also emphasized the collaboration between the Cabildo, the Canary Islands Government, and local municipalities to improve the services received by citizens.