Finance parliamentary secretary Tonio Fenech yesterday paid a visit to the last euro training volunteer group at the Catholic Institute in Floriana.

Mr Fenech said that during the euro changeover process, special attention was being paid to the elderly and those persons with special needs who might consider the change a liability. He also thanked the volunteer group, whose members are being trained on purpose to help the elderly, that sector of society who might encounter difficulties understanding the European currency and how it operates.

He added that on a number of visits to homes for the elderly, day care centres, and a number of parish social centres, simple information with regards the euro currency and preparation for its adoption was passed on to the elderly and those present.

Mr Fenech explained that the media through its advertisements and euro-information TV programmes can be quite effective in this matter. Therefore the teledrama series devised by the NECC, starring local popular actors discussing the euro changeover in Maltese, is sure to be useful for everyone.

The head of the European Representation in Malta, Joanna Drake, National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC) chairman Joseph FX Zahra, and the representative of the Archbishop, Fr Vanni Xuereb were also present.

Mr Zahra said that the committee was very grateful to the volunteer groups as they were willing to help out without payment. He also said that the Church played a key role in the matter.

The NECC is launching two dvds, one of which includes sign language, consisting of a series of 10 teledramas which will be aired on the TV channel Education 22 as from next Monday at 10.30pm. These dvds are already being shown at day-care centres. The NECC is also launching radio dramas on audio cassettes for people who are vision impaired.