Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil this afternoon announced the party's electoral pledges for individuals with a disability, strongly revolving around the aim to encourage their independence.

Speaking on a new program on NET television which is running specifically to discuss the party's pledges, Dr Busuttil said that the first pledge, the creation of a scheme called 'Lifeplan', will "bring peace of mind to parents of individuals with a disability, that the Government will help them after the parents pass away." Dr Busuttil added that the contract will also seek the go-ahead of the person with the disability.

The scheme will initiate the creation of contracts written up between the government and the parents, so that the person will be helped with gaining his/her autonomy after the parents of the individual pass away.  

"The scheme will include factors such as the individual will have the possibility to live in a home in the heart of the community of their locality,"  Dr Busuttil explained.  

Adding to the explanation, Social Policy Shadow Minister Paula Mifsud Bonnici said that such a scheme would provide reassurance to the parents that their children will be "living as they are today."  

The party is pledging to support individuals with a disability financially by raising the pensions of those individuals with a severe disability who cannot work, by raising their pension to that of minimum wage. 

Dr Busuttil said that those individuals with a severe disability who can work, will receive the pension for persons with a disability, besides their monthly wage.

He continued that individuals with a disability, such as amputees, will be given a pension for persons with a disability.

Another pledge included in this sector is directed towards those who are voluntarily working with people who have a disability. "Those people work with love," Dr Busuttil said, "we want to help those NGOs and services who work in this sector," he said, continuing that, if elected, a PN government would pay and help support these services and organizations, in order to improve them. 

Dr Busuttil pledged that children's allowance for children with a disability will go up from €20 to €25 per week. He also reminded those present that the party is also pledging to increase the number of LSAs in summer schools so that more individuals with a disability can attend the schools. He also pledged that the party will be committed to helping with the maintenance of hearing aids and service dogs.

The Nationalist Party Leader said that these pledges were promised by the Labour Government in the last General Election, however "were forgotten once the Prime Minister got into Castille." "There are some sections of society who have been left behind the past four years," he said.

Talking on the program, spokesperson Amy Camilleri Zahra said, "you need to tend to the needs of individuals with disabilities if you want society to move forward. Referring to the new houses pledge, Mrs Camilleri Zahra said that they should, be treated "with dignity, respect and standards." "People with disabilities want to live like you and me, in houses, not institutions," she said. She added that in order for the lives of persons with disabilities to move forward in society and be supported, they need to be given the opportunity to express themselves.

We are currently in the third week of the electoral campaign, following the call for a snap election on 3 June by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.