Aġenzija Sapport, the national agency for the provision of services for people with disabilities within the Ministry for Inclusion and Quality of Life, has entered into a new contract with the private entity HILA Homes Ltd through which it will respite services are being provided on both a long-term and short-term basis.
The contract, worth € 6.7 million, will be spread over three years and will provide a minimum of 50 places for people with disabilities.
SKILL Homes Ltd will be providing these beds from two locations, Casa Apap Bologna, Mosta and Casa Nuovo, Paola. Twenty-four beds will be on a long-term respite basis and 26 on a short-term basis. This contract renews a previous agreement between the two sides and shows an increase of five beds and will increase the number of beneficiaries. The new agreement reflects an increase of € 648,000 on the previous agreement.
Minister for Inclusion and Quality of Life Julia Farrugia Portelli said that through this agreement the respite services are being extended to further address the demand for them. “The direct beneficiaries will be people with disabilities but they will also be benefiting their relatives as such a service will also be required of them as it will mean a time of rest for them. Such services are also provided by a number of NGOs and the need for them is growing. As a government we will continue to do everything possible to offer such services because ultimately they mean an improvement in the quality of life not only of the people directly concerned, people with disabilities, but also of their relatives, “she said.
