Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg visited the Salesian Youth Center, where ongoing works by the Public Works department are being carried out as part of a €150,000 investment.

Minister Ian Borg said, “Community facilities and spaces are amongst the highest priorities for this government. This is because we believe that they directly affect the quality of life of residents in any concerned locality. Whilst we are committed in maintaining our ongoing commitment to create and improve more open spaces, we are also complementing this work through further interventions in these spaces and buildings where, after all, our communities live their social life in. These types of organisations are at the heart of our towns and villages, so we must remain committed to support and help them as much as we can. Above all, we are committed to continue delivering more projects in our community spaces.”

The project consists of two phases. The first phase covered the dismantling of the metal sheeting and demolition of the existing structures and stairs adjacent to the chapel and offices. Once the demolition and excavation works were finalised, construction works commenced. These included the construction of the ground and first floor next to the chapel and other alteration works to incorporate the proposed structures to the existing building.

Once complete, the ground floor will comprise of showers and sanitary facilities, domestic store, passenger lift and stairs leading to the first floor. The first floor will comprise of sanitary facilities, a domestic store and an access to the hall in the first floor.

On the other hand, the second phase consists of works so that the existing tuck shop gets extended instead of the existing stairs which lead to the hall at first floor level. Once complete, the first floor will consist of a multisensory room.

In the coming days, there will be the casting of the reinforced concrete slab on the first floor, construction of the parapet wall, concrete roof screed and waterproofing.