Spain’s Anticorruption Prosecutor is investigating alleged mismanagement of Generalitat aid for young people leaving care. The probe follows warnings of poor oversight and possible phantom placements in Catalonia.
The Anticorruption Prosecutor has launched an investigation into suspected irregularities in the management of Generalitat aid for young people who have left state care in Catalonia. The inquiry was triggered after the Oficina Antifraude Cataluña flagged serious deficiencies in the oversight of companies responsible for monitoring these financial supports. Judicial sources confirm that the investigation focuses on the economic aid line for extutelados and the possible existence of so-called “phantom placements” for youth accommodation, with the Office of Antifraud collaborating in the process.
The Office of Antifraud had already been examining complaints from a social educator about the handling of benefits by the former Dirección General de la Infancia y la Adolescencia (DGAIA). These services were managed by a joint venture between Fundación Mercè Fontanilles and Fundació Resilis. An audit by the Sindicatura de Cuentas estimated that between 2016 and 2024, DGAIA made €167.5 million in improper payments, highlighting a lack of effective monitoring and control mechanisms.
The complaints coincided with a high-profile case involving a minor who became a victim of a paedophile network while under state protection. This incident prompted the Catalan government to restructure DGAIA, now known as the Dirección General de Prevención y Protección de la Infancia y la Adolescencia (DGPPIA), and to take direct responsibility for monitoring economic aid to young people leaving care.
Following its own investigation, the Oficina Antifraude Cataluña has sent its findings to the Prosecutor’s Office. While it found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the management of economic benefits, it did recommend further scrutiny of contract compliance after identifying shortcomings in oversight. The office is also continuing a separate investigation into “phantom placements,” reviewing documents related to contracts signed by DGAIA.
In May, former consellera Mònica Martínez Bravo announced that from January 1, 2027, her department will directly manage the monitoring of economic aid for extutelados, ending the practice of outsourcing this service. Several organizations have filed complaints in Barcelona courts seeking further investigation into the detected irregularities. In April, a judge dismissed a criminal complaint against four former consellers, ruling that while there were administrative deficiencies, there was no evidence of criminal conduct.
This case highlights ongoing challenges in the oversight of social aid in Catalonia, echoing broader concerns about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of contracted social services. The issue of inadequate monitoring and the risk of improper payments is not unique to Catalonia; similar debates have emerged in other Spanish regions, especially where vulnerable groups depend on state support. For context, recent reports on chronic homelessness in Barcelona, such as this analysis of rising street homelessness, underline the importance of robust oversight and targeted aid for at-risk youth and adults. The Generalitat’s decision to bring monitoring in-house may signal a shift toward greater accountability, but the effectiveness of these reforms will depend on sustained attention to transparency and control.
