People who cannot work because they have to care for individuals with a disability on a full-time basis will see an increase of €4,250 if the PL is elected to government, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Friday.

 Speaking during a political event in San Gwann, Abela said that under a PL government full time carers will benefit from an increased subsidy of €395 per month. 

Abela said although much has been done by every government for the disability sector, the PL is aiming for better and higher standards. 

Mentioning the Child Development Assessment Unit (CDAU), he said that there are a number of changes that need to happen. 

He explained that during the pandemic a backlog of the much-needed occupational therapy services was being experienced. He added that a scheme which allowed private occupational therapists and government employed ones to give their services to patients, for which the government was paying had improved the situation. 

Abela said that if elected, a Labour government would make sure to give the services needed for the Child Development Assessment Unit under one modern and adequate building. Apart from that, he also promised Gozo’s first CDAU centre. 

He added that all these proposals have been inspired from house visits that are being conducted. Abela said that a Labour government will always be the sensitive one, which also listens to the people’s wishes. 

The PL leader said that the Labour party is giving a guarantee to children because it is committed to the proposals it is making. He added that it can guarantee all of these as the party already knows how much these measures are going to cost, how they are going to be implemented and assuring that they are sustainable as a labour government wants to continue to build on them. 

Abela said that the Labour government’s track record should be enough to assure the guarantee it is giving for the level of commitment for the future. 

During his speech Abela explained how the different proposals being guarantee are going to benefit many children. 

He explained how the greening project announced for San Gwann, forming part of the €700 million national greening project, will provide a better environment for children living nearby. 

Speaking on behalf of the PL, he said that it is also giving the needed attention to extracurricular activates, adding that although academic education is important it believes that extracurricular activities positively aid in children’s character formation, and that is why it has proposed a €300 subsidy, in order to ensure that families are able to afford it.