With the beginning of 2015, our work towards achieving our 2015 goals is already in gear as well.

First off this month we will be officially opening the second refurbished ward at St Vincent de Paul Residence - the second one to be opened in less than a year. This refurbishing of wards is being carried out to ensure an improvement in the level of care given to residents in wards that are well-equipped and that also have a pleasant ambience. The wards have historically lacked privacy, therefore undermining residents' dignity, and with refurbishments will ensure that it is fully restored.

It is not my intention to carry out a comparative exercise, but it useful to note that the previous administration opened an average of one ward per legislature, while in the case of the present government, we are on the point of finishing the second one and St Francis Wards 3 and 4 will also be ready in the coming months. Four wards in total is surely an achievement worthy of comment. I am genuinely looking forward to opening such wards as the residents deserve better facilities and our aim is to provide them with a home from home.

These projects will compliment the extensive programme of work that will be carried out in all our government-run homes - in Msida, Mosta and Mtarfa. Work has already begun and a programme of activities in all our homes will also commence in the next few weeks. We want to ensure that our residents are not only provided with up-to-standard residential services but also that they are given quality leisure time as well.

The official opening of an Active Ageing Centre in Birgu will be our flagship project in relation to active ageing, and will be equipped for the elderly attending such day centres to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. The facilities provided includes gym equipment and a lifelong-learning programme, which to be prepared before the official opening as have been provided in the various day centres around Malta and Gozo.

In Gozo, an agreement has also been reached with Centru Rghaj it-tajjeb in Victoria and negotiations with local councils are ongoing for two similar projects. We will also be opening the first night shelter and day services centre for people with dementia.

The Dementia Strategy is also a project on which this government is working, Malta being one of the first countries internationally to adopt such a strategy on a national level. We have already begun work on implementing this strategy by commencing training courses for staff, especially those working in the care of the elderly sector, and also to provide structures like the one in Gozo.

As pledged in the last Budget speech, the Government is aiming to open 10 small houses for people with disability, within the community. We are at an advanced stage regarding the opening of the first one in Siġġiewi, which will be the prototype for the other nine scheduled. Work has also started on three more such residences in different areas, including in Gozo. In Gozo we will also be launching a learning hub for those with disability that will include an ICT programme and other job-related programmes and courses. This will also the first of its kind and will pave the way for the upgrading our all the day centres run by Agenzija Sapport. During the last few months of 2014, we began a works and maintenance programme of all Sapport day centres and residences and a major project relating to Mtarfa Centre, which will be converted into a state-of-the-art day centre.

The National Disability Strategy is another target for 2015. Following the launch of the National Disability Policy during the International Day for People with Disability, we are now concluding the particular strategy that will be open for public consultation in the coming weeks. We have also submitted the first national report to the United Nations through the office of the national focal point.

And last but by no means least, I am greatly looking forward to supporting the Maltese Special Olympics team that will compete in this July's World Games. I truly enjoyed supporting Special Olympics Malta during the European Summer Games and I really felt proud of such an amazing team.

This will be a challenging and exciting year, full of new initiatives and projects, so here's to 2015, with my best wishes to you all for a fruitful year full of health and peace of mind.