Prime Minister Robert Abela and the Rabat Local Council have together inaugurated the completed restoration of the Rabat Local Council building, Dar ir-Rabtin. The project cost around €1 million.

Dar ir-Rabtin, which is found at the heart of the Maltese locality, has undergone extensive restoration work in order for it to serve various purposes, including those related to the local council's work as well as other social and educational ones.

During the inauguration, the Prime Minister praised the local council's work for its own community, remarking that it has opted to make this investment so that it may continue to offer the best services to its residents.

Abela maintained that the government shall continue bolstering the resources it provides to local councils, and will also continue to involve them in decisions related to their localities. He also noted initiatives being undertaken in Rabat that aim to bring more services closer to the community, including those on the outskirts of the locality.

PM Abela referred to local councils as the main collaborators in government projects desired to be carried out and in the changes that are needed to be made as a country. He appealed for them not to be hesitant to be agents for change and to have the courage to make tomorrow better than today.

"You have been entrusted, by the community that elected you, to drive change forward with the aim of having more beautiful, more inclusive and above all sustainable communities for the good of our children. In all this, the Government will be your partner. I wish you much more work for the benefit of the community," the Prime Minister said.

The Minister for Local Government, Owen Bonnici, noted the completion of the restoration project with great satisfaction. He described how the historic building has become more accessible to residents through some modern interventions to serve its community more effectively.

Minister Bonnici also praised the work being done by local councils, detailing the positive change they bring about to their own residents.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, mentioned that local councils are citizens' first point of reference and that over these past 31 years, they have continued to serve their residents, addressing their respective needs along the way.

While speaking about the building's improved accessibility, the Parliamentary Secretary praised the locality's mayor, councillors, executive secretary, and all employees within the Rabat Local Council for the work they are carrying out.

Rabat's mayor, Sandro Craus, detailed some of the important work being carried out around his locality, from infrastructural projects and improvements to initiatives in favour of the community.

"After this great work was carried out to restore this building, it is now time to come up with more ideas that will benefit Rabat's residents in the infrastructural, educational, and social fields," mayor Craus said.