€9 million in new child supplement for low-income families

Under the new child supplement, these families will be paid €400 for their first child, €400 for their second child, and another €200 for every other child in the form of a supplementary grant.

This will be given over and above the customary children’s allowance.

According to social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia, the new child supplement will be conditional on children having a 95% school attendance record and that all children are fully immunised.

Farrugia did not state the number of families that would benefit from the supplementary grant, but said the total spend would be of €9 million.

“Education is key to fighting poverty and we want to mitigate risks of further children falling into the poverty trap or enter the vicious circle of dependency on social benefits. The supplement should help those families most in need and ensure that the minors do not miss school for no reason at all,” he said.

The 95% attendance rate was decided to match the 96% rate of attendance reached by students in independent and Church schools.

In collaboration with the social solidarity ministry, the health ministry and the education ministry, the government will also be providing social assistance and support to families facing serious problems – such as physical or mental illness – which cause their children to miss school.

If the measure proves to be effective, the government may decide to issue the supplement every year. As from this scholastic year, children will no longer be allowed to miss any school days without presenting a medical certificate.

The decision was taken after the level of school absenteeism rose excessively in government schools when compared to independent and Church schools.  Statistics provided by the Ministry for Education revealed that 235 out of 13,748 children attending public primary schools, each missed school for 31 days and more.

Farrugia also said that families would be receiving the customary children’s allowances in September before the school term begins. The measure was first implemented last year. Some 68,110 children receive the allowance, costing the government €43.5 million.

‘Families getting out of the poverty trap’

Social Solidarity Minister discusses poverty in Malta • Video by Ray Attard

According to the family minister, the average income for every family member has increased by 5.6% to €650 when compared to the previous three years.

Reiterating that the Opposition was incorrect over its interpretation of the poverty rate in Malta, Farrugia pointed out that the rate of persons at risk of poverty increased from 20.3% in 2009 to 23.1% in 2012. This translated into an increase of 4,000 persons every year.

Farrugia said several government initiatives, including utility tariffs reduction, free childcare, increase in stipends and stipends paid to repeaters among others, are giving a push to the fight against poverty.