The Ministry for Inclusion and Volunteering said the Malta Autism Centre is not honouring its obligations towards the State.
The ministry was responding to concerns raised by parents of children and young people with autism who attend the centre. Parents said they were informed that the centre will be increasing its fees and introducing a new charge of €168 per month, claiming this was due to the government cutting funding that had been given to the centre for the past 14 years.
In its statement, the Ministry stressed that the centre is not honouring obligations under the Public Social Partnership (PSP), which involves public funding and directly concerns the wellbeing of the children and young people who use the facility. The Ministry reiterated that their welfare remains a government priority.
The Ministry explained that the centre's management has, for years, been asked to regularise a number of issues, including holding a valid DQSE licence, providing an accessibility report for the building, and supplying an updated Health and Safety report. A 2022 Health and Safety report had documented serious shortcomings backed up by photographic evidence.
In February 2025, the operator submitted an updated Health and Safety report, but according to the State Advocate, it was "too vague," lacking basic details, photographs, and clear documentation to demonstrate that previous shortcomings had been addressed. The Advocate advised that a more detailed report was needed to ensure the building was safe for children and young people with autism.
During summer 2025, the Permanent Secretary's Office within the Ministry sent over a dozen formal reminders to the centre's management, in addition to holding meetings with the parties involved. The Ministry said that, despite this, the operator chose instead to notify parents in writing about the new charges.
On Wednesday 24 September 2025, officials again explained to the operator that if it provided an updated Health and Safety report with photographic evidence showing that risks had been addressed, along with other basic documents, the government was ready to sign an extension of the PSP agreement in good faith and in the best interests of the children.
The following day, Thursday 25 September 2025, the operator submitted the Health and Safety report. The Directorate for Disability Affairs within the Ministry immediately requested the additional basic documents required under the PSP, including details of staff employed at the centre, POMA certificates, a valid VO Compliance Certificate, valid insurance policy, signed audited accounts, a valid DQSE licence, and the centre's bank account details so that government payments could be processed.
The Ministry confirmed that, to date, none of these documents have been submitted. It reiterated that the government remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people with disabilities, while also ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and with proper governance.