The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD), which is the national umbrella organisation within the disability sector, is surprised and very concerned at the news that the government is to reduce about €1m from the budgets of Appoġġ and Support agencies. This decision will badly affect the services given by these agencies. Both these agencies make a big difference in the lives of vulnerable people who turn to these agencies to live a decent life and to be able to participate in the community as the rest of the Maltese population.

This decision comes along as the bill committee is presently discussing amendments to make the lives of people with disability much better.

Apart from the fact that the austerity measures directed to children and people with disability are contradictory with the spirit of the amendments being discussed in the parliamentary committee, such measures can never be justified as budget reductions can be made from somewhere else.

While such decision is unacceptable for the organisation members of MFOPD, the federation urges the government to reconsider this erroneous decision.

Joe Borg

PRO, MFOPD