Couples or individuals who would like to adopt a child from Malta will be eligible to a maximum grant of €1,000, Family Minister Michael Falzon said on Monday. 

Addressing journalists, Falzon said the grant is lower than that given to parents who adopt children from abroad because there are fewer expenses linked.

Parents who adopt a child from a foreign country can be reimbursed up to €10,000 for expenses. 

Falzon said that around 90 local children could potentially be adopted in the coming months. 

Falzon said that the launch of the new measure will see the Family Ministry fulfil 90 per cent of the measures announced in the last budget. 

Over the past four years, 84 couples and seven single parents adopted 115 children from abroad. They were collectively given just under €1 million in grants.