Government to subsidise one computer per family

The government yesterday announced a subsidy scheme for purchases of new computers.

IT Minister Austin Gatt said the government will be refunding families 16 per cent of the price of a new computer, including the keyboard, printer and mouse.

The scheme also includes loan programmes through which the financing of a new computer would cost only €0.99 (43c) a day. The loans are being offered in partnership with Bank of Valletta, HSBC and Lombard Bank.

The scheme is for one computer per family and has to be taken up between Monday and May 30. The subsidy is given on a computer costing up to a maximum of €1,165 (Lm500). The highest subsidy offered will not exceed €186.40 (Lm80).

The scheme is estimated to cost the government about €1.9 million (Lm815,670).

It follows other schemes launched by the government recently, designed to convert more people to computer technology. Through the Blue Skies initiative, which has now closed, families who never installed broadband were given the option of buying it for just €3 a month. The government is also offering reconditioned computers to families in financial difficulties and persons with a disability for as low as €130. This offer is still open.