Saturday, 22nd November 2008
This is not social housing - Dalli
Social Policy Minister John Dalli was visibly annoyed at the launch of a new housing scheme yesterday and called for a reform of social housing that would be more sustainable and ethical.
He was speaking at a news conference held at the Pembroke housing estate, which boasts spacious apartments with spectacular sea views. As he arrived on site, Mr Dalli seemed astonished, and toured the area with Paul Debattista, CEO of the Housing Authority.
"Social housing should not mean building luxury apartments and giving them away for free. We must provide decent affordable housing but we should encourage people to do better for themselves. This should not be the ultimate step for them," he said in comments to the media.
When asked whether he was specifically referring to the apartments around him, he said: "Let's be honest, this is not social housing."
This is not the first time Mr Dalli openly criticised the work of the previous Administration since taking over as Social Policy Minister last March. Shortly after the election, in fact, he found himself in conflict with former Health Minister Louis Deguara when he described the hospital's waiting lists as "scandalous".
Dr Deguara, who said he felt hurt by the comments, described Mr Dalli's comment as simplistic and reflecting a poor knowledge of the real reasons behind the problem.
Mr Dalli called for a more balanced approach yesterday and said the government should invest in affordable rental schemes that would be more sustainable. These should be revised every few years because not everyone who needs social housing now will still need it in five years' time, he added.
Through the scheme launched yesterday, the government provides a 20 per cent discount on 152 newly-built apartments in 15 localities around Malta and Gozo. The estimated value of these properties is €16, 256, 700, so the government will be subsidising €3,251,240 and raking in the difference.
Through the scheme, a three-bedroomed apartment will cost about €91,000 and for a two-bedroomed place one can expect to pay about €77,000. One-bedroomed apartments are also available at about €55,218.
Housing Authority chairman Charles Borg said the aim of the authority was to help young couples and families with children find affordable and decent housing. The first 10 per cent will be given to families with disabilities, both physical and mental.
The apartments are equipped with eco-friendly measures such as insulation, double glazing and space for solar water heaters to be installed.
Applications for the scheme will be available from December 1 and can be picked up from the Housing Authority in Floriana. The housing is available in Birkirkara, Kirkop, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mriehel, Mtarfa, Naxxar, Pembroke, Qawra, Tarxien, Zebbug, Zejtun, Zurrieq and Xewkija.
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Comments
If people pay this money (which is supposed to be subsidied)they have to be given what they are paying for ie. a good standard of property. All the above prices are not a small sum so what you pretend they are given a 'kerrejja' !!
Please don't mention other properties market values as most property prices in Malta are inflated and soon will hear a big boom from the bubble burst!!
I agree 100% with Mr.Dalli and other bloggers on the point that the present housing schemes and other social policies should be changed and help more people who are REALLY in poverty and make more means test to avoid abuses which at the moment is rampant but please don't mix up things after all some one has been managing this country and is responsable for this mess! Thanks
Malcolm Seychell is totally wrong in his usual false guessings! Politics are not swollowed as you think; Socialism is not what you're taught or given the impression of. It only means giving the opportunity to everyone and not giving the fish instead of the rod! If the housing methods falling under Minister Dalli starts to be done in a proper way as he suggested, that would be proper socialism.
It may be useless to continue answering you! You're so lost in what you call politics and admiring John Dalli and Austin Gatt that now you're turning like all the rest!!!!
@ deb Bugeja
Very well said, out there there are many persons who are becoming rich thanks to the generosity of us Maltese people who in the past provided them with a place to live in almost for free. Something has to be done in our Parliament to stop them demolishing these terraced houses who were literally donated to them and if they want to do so then let them contribute by imposing some form of tax, its the least they could do.
So, because you are a 'worker' - whatever that means!!!!! - you should get a free property which is paid for by your neighbours, you who have probably never paid your taxes properly as I did and still do!
U hallina!
No I don't expect them to live in kerrejja, but neither do I expect them to live in such luxury with sea-views either. They should be happy with a small comfortable apartment away from prime areas. I work, I pay every last cent of my taxes, and I have a 30 year loan to pay off so that I could live in a decent house (with absolutely no country or sea-views)...so why on earth should such people be so privileged? What possible incentive do these people have to actually go out and start working, when the government doles out such luxury for peanuts??
Shame on who wastes my taxes on such projects. Minister Dalli has my full support on this. If you want luxury you have to pay for it.
Some nice comments which show the hatred there is for the lower working class!
Is the world going mad?
Are we planning to create a two tier social housing,?
class 1, Luxury apartments with seaviews
class 2, dwellings with with comfortable accomodation
Would the cost of the site of such luxury seaview apartments would have been better off invested in building more decent dwellings with comfortable of accomodation?
I think that it is not just the world that is going mad, but Malta is leading it!
The government at that time made a huge mistake in giving people such lands for a very small amount of money and others who werent so lucky to get a government land had to pay good money to obtain their property.
Is there a communal swimming pool and barbeque area?
Also, a couple of palm trees and a little bit of artifical sandy beach wouldn't have been amiss.
The minister who hatched this irresponsible project is now on the rampage in the education sector. God help us.
Before Dalli we had a socialist minister
So she didn't care of those who work day and night, but cared for those who claim claim and claim benefits from our taxes
Citizen : Mr Gov, I am hungry, barefooted and my clothes are in tatters.
Gov : Ok. Here's a voucher for a seven course meal at a top restaurant, an Armani suit and a pair of soft real leather designer shoes.
Citizen : Cheers mate. Any chance for a taxi?
Well said John Dalli!
The government should consider claiming back the whole blocks of these apartments and sell them to the general public at market price. New apartments with fantastic views in a top location should net in a few € millions. The funds could then be used to build a much larger number of decent units, in a less sought after area, for a larger number of families. The new units can then be available to accommodate the poorest families on a strict means test. If and when these people become more economically independent, then they must move out, make room for people who are poorer than they are, and face the sacrifices that the rest of us make to have a roof over our heads.