The Home Start service, which was established in April last year and for a reduced catchment area that comprises Fgura, Cottonera, Zabbar and Zejtun, has so far benefited seven families with two more awaiting to meet the volunteers, Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina told Labour MP Carmelo Abela.
And the number of young people who have benefited from the Head Start project amounted to just 15, she added.
Schengen preparations
Labour MP Leo Brincat asked the Home Affairs Minister to explain in detail how the Schengen system will be phased in. Mr Brincat claimed many foreigners who have a work
permit or a residence permit are feeling very insecure about this system.
He also asked if the government will be setting up a special unit to tackle problem areas or troubleshooting of complex problems that may arise.
Mr Brincat also asked how the processing of Schengen and national territorial visas will work, and also whether the issuing of visas will take longer than it takes today.
He also asked if it is true that, at Immigration Control at the airport, there will be no distinction between foreigners with a work or residence permit in Malta and visitors.
Dr Tonio Borg replied that the Schengen system will be operational as from 1 January for those who arrive by sea from Italy, while it will be
operational at the airport from the end March.
The government is trying to have all the infrastructure, systems, procedures and other structures ready by the end of September to ensure Malta receives a positive evaluation by the EU representatives on this matter.
A special unit, the Central Visa Unit, will be set up within the Foreign Ministry to deal with any possible problems that may occur.
Visas will be processed in practically the same way that they are processed today, that is through an application at Maltese consular offices and other offices with an agreement of representation.
The application will be examined on a number of standard criteria, such as possession of a valid passport, the means to return to one’s country, sufficient funds to cover the stay, good conduct and a valid reason to enter Malta and later the Schengen area, and that the visitor poses no threat to illegal immigration, public health and security.
There may be isolated cases where the processing of a visa application for certain nationalities requires consultation with other EU member states. In these cases, there may be some delay in the issuing of a visa.
When Malta joins Schengen, the main difference will depend on from where the passenger comes to Malta. If the visitor is coming from another Schengen country, there will be no inspection. But if a visitor comes from outside the Schengen area, quick inspections are carried out on EU citizens while citizens from non-EU countries will have today’s inspections as well as inspections on the Schengen Information System.