Expenditure on social services in the A.C. of the Basque Country reached the figure of 789 million euros in 2001, 15% more than the year before, thus representing 1.9% of the Basque GDP. The average expenditure per inhabitant came to 382 euros, according to EUSTAT data.

By province, the increase in expenditure in 2001 was 20% in Bizkaia, 12% in Alava and 8% in Gipuzkoa. However, in relation to the number of inhabitants, Alava had higher expenditure than the rest, with an average of 473 euros per inhabitant, compared with 382 euros in Gipuzkoa and 359 euros in Bizkaia.

By item of expenditure, current expenditure assigned to the provision of services came to 587 million euros (+14%). Economic provisions destined to families (Social salaries, Non-contributive pensions, etc.) accounted for a total of 165 million euros (+16%). Investment in the sector came to 37 million (+15%).

Spending by the different public administrations came to 554 million euros, 70% of total expenditure, and represented an expenditure of 268 euros per inhabitant. The different sources in the private sector contributed the remaining 30%; among them we should point out the effort by families, whose contribution, as payment for services received, represented 12% (95 million euros) of total expenditure.

The sector employed a total of 15,804 persons in 2001, 1.9% of employees, 67% of which were females. The social services also involved a volunteer force of 13,454 persons who worked without pay in the sector. Bearing in mind the 4,819 subcontracted direct care workers, the employment figure increased by 30%; half of this subcontracted personnel carried out their work in the households of users of home help services.

The A.C. of the Basque Country had a wide network of 2,215 centres, where social services were provided.

Among the wide range of centres, classified according to the type of need attended, the majority group (27%) consisted of residential centres (residences, functional households, hostels, etc. ), 603 altogether, that offered 16,184 places and employed 6,723 workers. Expenditure on these centres came to 276 million euros, 35% of total expenditure.

30% of expenditure was assigned to third age centres.

Taking into consideration population groups to which social services are aimed, 975 centres were for the third age, on which an expenditure of 237 million euros was employed, representing 30% of total expenditure.

305 residential centres were assigned to the third age, offering12,125 places, which represented one place per 13 inhabitants aged 75 and over, with a volume of expenditure of 206 million euros, 13% more than the previous year and a growing presence by the private sector, which reached 69% of third age residences and 54% of places and users.

Among this population group, admission into residences was consolidated as an alternative recourse for the 76 day care centres (+10%) which offered 1,611 places (+8%). With lower figures in employment and expenditure, but with greater social significance, 330 retirement clubs and 240 associations catered for a total of 344.667 members.

This offer was made complete with other programmes and services that, without being exclusive to third age, represented an estimated cost of 77 million euros, half of which was used on the home help service. With these programmes, the expenditure assigned to the third age came to around 40% of total expenditure.