​Implementation of 81% of the electoral manifesto 

The Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity has implemented 81% of the electoral manifesto halfway through this legislature. The majority of the proposals and measures are social measures which affect positively the whole of society.

Minister for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity Michael Falzon announced this during a press conference held at the San Ġwann Day Care Centre.

An illustrated presentation by the Ministry’s main advisor Maja Brinkworth and the Permanent Secretary Mark Musu showed the fully implimented measures which directly affect families, pensioners and the workforce.

Fully completed proposals include those ranging from social security, social benefits, children’s allowance, child bonus and foster care allowance amongst others.

Higher priority was also given to raise the bar in work-related conditions, with a rise in minimum wage, less taxes and contributions, while efforts are continously made to address previous injustices occured.

Minister for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity Michael Falzon said this government is a doer, and has even implemented measures which were once promised by previous Nationalist governments, like the removal of tax on pensions.

Minister Michael Falzon insisted that this government has a social soul and the most vulnerable people, pensioners and people with disability being given priority.

Moreover he insisted that this Government is committed to engage more people in the workforce while improving working conditions and opportunities. 

 

Minister Michael Falzon conclued that together as a country and a government, we will continue to achieve more success, along with a longterm plan and direction with the aim of ameliorating the situation of the vulnerable.

Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing and Persons with Disability Silvio Parnis said that while he acknowledges all the hard work done in the elderly and disability sectors, he is working to ensure that all the remaining work is complete.

With regard to the elderly sector, the Parliamentary Secretary that the current waiting list for admission in residential homes will be eliminated once and for all. The Parliamentary Secretary also said that investment to improve government elderly residences, especially St Vincent De Paul Residence, will continue taking place. All the services dedicated to the elderly will also continue improving and active ageing in the community will be further strengthened. He said that the Dementia Strategy will also be updated; in fact, the Dementia Friendly Communities pilot project will be extended on a national scale and there is an ongoing process to set up Dementia Activity Centers in the community. In relation to support care workers, the Parliamentary Secretary said that the carers’ allowance reform will be further improved and strengthened. In addition, the grant given to those elderly who are older than 75 years will be increased to €500.

With regard to the disability sector, the Parliamentary Secretary said that a strategy for screening children with the aim of identifying and recognizing both physical and intellectual difficulties from an early age will be drawn up. With regards to autism, the Parliamentary Secretary said that a national plan is being set up.

The centres for people with disability are also being modernized and the services offered will increase. Furthermore, the REACH project will be strengthened; the role of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability will be reinforced; a Lifelong Inclusion Unit within Aġenzija Sapport as well as a National Fund for an Independent Life will be set up; one of the board members of every major government entity will be a person with disability; and a gap analysis of existing services will be performed.