The National Commission for Persons with a Disability (KNPD) is aiming this year to set up a motoring centre for people with a disability in Hal Far, executive director Fred Bezzina said yesterday during the launch of the KNPD annual report.

At present, Mr Bezzina explained, people with a disability who want to drive have to go to the UK for their driving lessons.

The commission also aims to open an independent living centre using European Social Funds, he said.

During a news conference given to launch the report, the Labour Party’s spokesperson for Social Solidarity, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca called for ongoing evaluation of the services and resources available. “We need to focus on what needs to be done and not waste money on projects that are not successful,” she said.

She pointed out that creating awareness was very important but the recommendations and suggestions of the commission needed to be heeded. Dr Coleiro Preca also urged the KNPD to become more involved in the community and called for a national plan for people with a disability.

However, Social Solidarity and Family Minister Dolores Cristina said that while a national plan was important, “we have to build on what has already been implemented.”

Mrs Cristina spoke about limited funding and added that very often they were victims of their success.

“When a new service becomes successful, there will be a huge demand for it. Unfortunately we have to keep in mind that we are limited with regard to finances and human resources,” the minister said.

Mrs Cristina, together with the chairperson of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, Janet Mifsud, and KNPD chairman Joe Camilleri, last month attended the first summit in Berlin to discuss the Year of Equal Opportunities.

“The irony of it all was that there was a great lack of accessibility for people using a wheelchair at the summit. Accessibility is not a local problem only,” Mrs Cristina said. She added that adult training centres were an ongoing project and the government has already spent Lm2.3 million in the area. In the near future, a residential home for people with a disability will be set up at Dar Pirotta in Birkirkara.

Mrs Cristina spoke about the importance of working closely with other NGOs and the Church.

“We are in the process of setting up a home for children with challenging behaviour in collaboration with the Richmond Foundation in Zejtun,” she said.

She also pointed out that people with a disability who qualified were exempt from the surcharge on water and electricity. Many requests received for the exemption were turned down.

Mr Camilleri said there was a five per cent increase (1,143) last year in special identity cards. There was a 30 per cent increase (1,200) in the number of students attending disability issues courses and a decrease of 11 per cent (1,480) in the use of the challenging behaviour service.

There were 814 applicants last year for the blue parking card – 615 of these were approved, said Mr Camilleri. However, there was a decrease of 65 per cent (27) requests for reserved parking.

In 2005, the commission registered a 75 per cent increase in the number of applications for the blue sticker.

However, the huge increase was not sustainable and through 2006, a doctor appointed by the commission reviewed all the applications.

The commission also collects all the blue stickers and special identity cards held by individuals who passed away. Those who did not return the documents were reported to the Police Commissioner.

In a suggestion to the commission, the Malta Transport Authority asked to make available all reserved parking areas to owners of the blue parking card.

Mr Camilleri said that while the idea held in principle, it did not work out as many people abused of the system and left their car parked there all day.

As a result, only those who applied for them can use the reserved parking bays.

The report highlighted the problem faced by many parents who have to go to their children’s school to give them medicine.

Even though some students with a disability were assigned a facilitator, some still go without or take the medicines with their parents’ help.

In 2005, the commission drew up a report with a number of recommendations to help solve this problem and presented it to the Education Ministry.

However, the report pointed out that a year has passed and the Education Ministry still has not replied.

As a result, the KNPD filed a judicial protest against the Education Ministry last year in an attempt to finally reach a solution.