This year has been a particularly special year for me. On my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of People with Disability and Active Ageing last April, I started a new phase in my life which is quite challenging.

I have always had a particular interest in the area of disability, as indicated by my time as a former Shadow Minister for family, children and people with disability and since my appointment I have had the privilege of working directly in these sectors. I must admit that a lot needs to be done in order to address the various needs and challenges and no matter how much is achieved, it is never enough. However, I must note that, during these last few months, together with my team we have worked hard and have achieved some important targets and milestones.

One of my very first tasks was the Bill - now an Act - establishing new offences, and harsher penalties, related to the abuse of older people. The law was drafted in a relatively short time and all the parliamentary steps were taken very smoothly, with unanimous parliamentary assent. This demonstrated that the abuse of older people was indeed a concern and, in fact, we stressed that the definition of 'abuse' should include neglect. The result is that the older members of our society can have more peace of mind, especially those living alone.

The adoption of the National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing in the last few months was complimented by other policy measures. We finalised the National Dementia Strategy, which will be published in the beginning of January. We are now putting the final touches to the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People after an extensive public consultation, and all this whilst also financing the running of a new centre for Malta's University of the Third Age and drafting a new Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Malta to open another University of The Third Age. Moreover, each public care home and day Centre for older people now has a representative committee, a strategy that serves to empower older people in the running of such entities. Complimentary learning modules on information and communication technology for those aged 60 and above were another state-sponsored initiative.

At the same time, we collaborated with local authorities in the deployment of social workers to perform outreach social work services with frail and vulnerable older people, as well as ensuring that our social and health care personnel are equipped with the latest development in gerontological and geriatric knowledge through in-service training courses delivered by university academics. Other policy strategies launched recently included the transformation of Day Centres for Older People into Centres for Active Ageing that fulfil the role of "lifelong learning hubs" and the organisation of nationwide pre-retirement learning programmes.

These two policy strategies are key features of the Secretariat's intention to improve older people's levels of empowerment. The people attending day centres now participate in innovative learning sessions delivered by professionals, many of whom are of the older generation themselves, on a variety of interests ranging from history, anthropology, art/music appreciation and philosophy to reminiscence activities and drama sessions. We also teamed up with the Malta Communications Authority and now have older people learning how to use the latest ICT. The pre-retirement learning programmes, on the other hand, involve a number of sessions that focus on the diverse aspects of later life, ranging from legal issues to financial aspects, health promotion to questions of ethics and from social services to dementia care.

In the coming months, the Parliamentary Secretariat will be even busier than ever exploring how recent advances in assistive technologies can improve the safety and well-being of older people and enable them to "age in place", conducting a reorganisation of the Office for the Commissioner for Older People and embarking on the legislation of an Adult Protection Act. With regard to residential and other related services, these remain crucial and extremely challenging. We did not inherit a happy situation but waiting lists and dilapidated care homes. At St Vincent de Paul Residence, three wards are currently the subject of major refurbishment and one will be re-opened in a few days time. We have a long-term plan to upgrade the whole complex at SVPR together with a schedule of work for all government care homes involving both upgrading and also an increase in bed capacity. We have trebled the number of respite beds and concluded an agreement to open the first night shelter in Gozo and provide day-care services to older people and those with dementia.

This year, the disability sector gained much-needed ground, and the budgetary measures were a consecration of this sector as a core sector for this Government. This year witnessed the appointment of the National Focal Point office for the Rights of People with Disability, responsible for compiling a state report in compliance with the UCNRPD signed back in 2012 by the previous administration with the first report ready and filed at the UN. The Guardianship Act was also enacted in 2012 but never properly implemented and we have therefore established an office for the Guardianship Registrar and appointed a Guardianship Board.

KNPD opened an office in Gozo, making information about the services available and the actual provision of those services easier more accessible for Gozitans and the consultation process in respect of the amendment of the Equal opportunities Act began.

The much awaited National Disability Policy is now a published document. This policy was drafted by those with disability themselves, their relatives, other stakeholders, academics and professionals and gives an overview of the measures and principles to be adopted by the government. Early next year, we will be launching the Disability Strategy which will detail how such measures and principles will be correctly and successfully implemented.

This year we have also started work on implementing the Soċjetà Ġusta project, with the aim of introducing the concept of small community homes for people with disability. Work is currently ongoing on the first three of such homes and during the budget speech the government announced the commitment to provide 10 such community homes by the end of this legislature. The Siggiewi home is near to completion, we are in the final stages prior to signing the contract to acquire a property in Gozo to become the first home in Gozo, we have an expression of interest that is being evaluated and are also assessing another property in Zabbar.

This year, the government has embarked on an ongoing inclusion campaign in order to promote the different abilities of those with disability. This year's budget has gone further in providing a package to boost the employment of people with disability that includes both incentives and also contributions that defaulting employers will be obliged to pay in lieu of employing the requisite number of people with disability.

Another kingpin of the government's policy is the inclusion of those with disability on a number of government boards, authorities and corporations. Such a measure will have multiple benefits: it ensures that people with a disability contribute to the policy direction of a particular government structure and that the best interests of those with a disability and their families are safeguarded in the development of policy and of organisational direction; it will ensure that the UN CRPD implementation phase, following this country's ratification, is being followed and at the same time will provide information to the Focal Point committee; it will give a clear message to these government structures that development in the respective sectors needs to ensure social inclusion.

I feel that this is the right time to give a clear message that policy starts at the roots and whilst it is imperative that the government continues pushing forward a social policy that is centred on the emancipation of this minority, it gives strength, credibility and a direct line of response. The success of these initiatives will continue to embrace the notion of Socjetà Gusta, a major guiding principle in the government's Election Manifesto.

These are some of the achievements that the government, by means of the Parliamentary Secretariat I manage, has made during the year. Such achievements give me the energy to continue working towards better rights for people with disability and the elderly. I hope that all of you had a great time over Christmas and sincerely wish all of you a very Happy New Year.