14 community houses for persons with disabilities

The government said today that there are 119 persons with disability living in the community, in 14 homes run by Aġenzija Sapport or NGOs. In a statement which appeared to be aimed at countering a PL commitment to set up homes in the community for persons with disabilities whose parents pass away, the Ministry of Justice and Family Affairs said residential services started being offered by Aġenzija Sapport 10 years ago. Furthermore, NGOs had been granted funds to provide such services for a number of years. Minister Chris Said this morning visited Ta' Vajrita residence in Marsascala, one of six homes run by Aġenzija Sapport, housing 49 persons with disability. The other homes are in Fgura, Kirkop, Mtarfa and Cospicua. A home for children is to be opened shortly in Birzebbuga. Dar Madonna tal-Mellieħa also houses 11 persons with disability aged under 50. Dr Said underlined the government's views on social inclusion and said the government was committed to providing more services to ensure that such people could continue to live in the community. He said that in the past five years the government allocated €5.5 million to four NGOs to provide residential services in the...