For the coming year and as part of the 2023 Budget, the Ministry for Inclusion, Volunteering and Consumer Rights has allocated just under €56 million. This investment will help to continue increasing and strengthening the services provided to people with disabilities and their families, while supporting voluntary organizations and consumer rights.
The Ministry will also be addressing 11 other proposals from the electoral manifesto for the disability, volunteering and consumer rights sectors, which will be carried out in Budget 2023. This is a clear demonstration of how much the Government really put in the center of its decisions the priorities of the people in these sectors.
Evidence of this are three testimonies of main stakeholders in the disability sector who described this Budget as one that weighs the parents of people with disabilities and that pushes forward an independent life for people with disabilities .
This is what the Minister for Inclusion, Volunteering and Consumer Rights Julia Farrugia Portelli claimed during a news conference during which she mentioned several positive initiatives that will be financed by next year’s Budget.
Among the biggest investment is that which will be helping parents who cannot work to take care of an adult son or daughter with a severe disability. Minister Farrugia Portelli explained how with an unprecedented investment of €1.8 million these parents will receive up to more than 9 times in the Carer’s Grant, meaning from €500 a year they will start receiving €4,500 a year. As a result of this measure, a little more than 400 parents will be benefiting.
The Minister said that this Budget is based on measures that show the will of the Government that we want to push forward the independence of people with disabilities, just as the National Strategy for people with disabilities calls for. disability.
Among these is the investment of €4.2 million in the Independent Community Living scheme so that more disabled people can reach their potential through a Personal Assistant. Marthese Mugliette, President of MFOPD, which represents 36 NGOs in the disability sector, praised this initiative as well as the fact that this Budget recognized this assistance for independent living in the community.
Academic and parent Dr. Olivia Galea Seychell, mentioned the moment in which she explained to her son, who is on the autism spectrum, that he could start having a personal assistant. She explained that his answer was that he could now live a more independent life.
Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli also said how a subsidy of 20% will be given on the purchase of new vehicles that are driven by people who use a wheelchair. Those who buy a modified second-hand car (including cars equipped with lifts or ramps) that is already registered, will begin to be given the possibility to benefit from a subsidy of no more than 10% on the price of the car. In this way we will be strengthening the independent concept of the Drive from Wheelchair. The Minister explained how in addition to the free therapy services offered by the Government, from next year the concept of a €200 tax credit will be introduced, every year for every child who is given therapy in private. Paulina Said from the Voice for Inclusion Gozo praised this initiative which was one of the proposals put forward before the Budget by the NGO. In her words, “the Government once again listened to our request.”
The Government will also see that people with disabilities are weighed from a financial point of view with an investment of €33 million, an increase of €2.8 million from the year 2022. In the 2023 Budget it was announced that the Increased Assistance for Severe Disability will increase by €9.90 per week to €174.80 per week, Severe Disability Assistance will increase by €6.60 per week to €116.12 per week and the Assistance for Disability will increase by €6.60 per week to €90.59 per week.
During 2023 another positive measure will be addressed: the means test of the Housing Authority’s schemes which will begin to exclude from it benefits given to people with disabilities.
Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli also mentioned how once again the Government will continue to protect and strengthen consumer rights by, as promised in the Electoral Manifesto, increasing the maximum amount of €5,000 on which claims can be made before the Consumer Claims Tribunal.
In addition, the Government will continue to support Maltese and Gozitan voluntary organizations with a reform that will take place in the sector and with a one-stop-shop where organizations can find services and support under one roof.
