An agreement worth over €5 million has been signed between Aġenzija Sapport and Dar il-Kaptan to provide respite services to people with disabilities, and to alleviate the load onto their family members.

The Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Julia Farrugia Portelli, presided over the signing of this agreement.

Valid for three years, €4.2 million from this agreement is dedicated to the residential respite service and the remaining €865,000 is dedicated towards the daytime respite service. These funds will also cover employee wages, training, transport for disabled people, and supervision.

The approximate €5 million total signifies an increase of over €850,000 from the previous agreement, signed back in 2021; the Ministry stated that this increase reflects the government's commitment to continue improving services provided to people with disabilities in the Maltese islands.

The residential respite service covers an allocation of 17 beds and reaches disabled persons of varying levels of needs and independence. At the moment, this service is reaching 223 people with disabilities. This residential service is available in the form of a plan and as well as for emergency cases.

Disabled persons who can benefit from this service include children, youths, and adults. Persons looking to take up this service will spend some time staying at Dar il-Kaptan to ensure best service via an orientation visit. Every person with a disability who makes use of the residential service at Dar il-Kaptan will have an individual plan prepared for them which will then be reviewed according to the needs and wishes of the individual.

"We will continue to support work that improves the quality of life of people with disabilities throughout our country," Minister Farrugia Portelli said, "This agreement that we are signing today is testimony to the government's commitment to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their abilities, receive the care and support they deserve."

The daytime respite service will be helping 15 people with disabilities. This features a structured programme featuring an initiative on independent living that helps facilitate their inclusion in local communities.

This service also helps identify at an early stage any changes or new needs that a disabled person requires, including any related to their health. It also provides a holistic service to these disabled persons via a tailored individual plan dedicated for each of them; this plan is agreed upon between both entities - Dar il-Kaptan and Aġenzija Sapport.

"By providing financial support for these essential respite services, we are not only investing in the wellbeing of people with disabilities, but also in their families and carers," the Minister remarked, "This contract means so much more than just funding; it is a reflection of the importance for society to support these families."

Aġenzija Sapport's Chief Executive, Oliver Scicluna, referred to the agency's collaboration with Dar il-Kaptan as a strong one that aims to provide quality services to disabled persons and their family members.

This agreement was signed by the Chairperson of the Foundation for Respite Care Services for Dar il-Kaptan, Martin Saliba, the Chief Executive of Aġenzija Sapport, Oliver Scicluna, and the Permanent Secretary of the Inclusion Ministry, Mark Musu.