Budget cuts for the social sector announced in January sent the "negative message" government is uninterested in social problems, Labour social policy spokesman Carmelo Abela said this afternoon.

Addressing a news conference, he said a reduction of €1.4 million from the family ministry's budget as part of the €40 million Malta was constrained to cut from its approved budget for this year, would significantly hit social agencies Sapport, Sedqa and Appogg.

Malta had to trim its budget for 2012 in view of the European Commission's drive to ensure members states' public finances remain sustainable.

Mr Abela said that the three agencies would see their budgets slashed by €715,000. "This is of concern especially when one considers that these agencies have waiting lists and their work is targeted towards the most vulnerable in society."

Sapport and Appogg have 1,031 people on their waiting list.

Reacting to the government's claim that in spite of the cuts, the 2012 allocations were still higher than for previous years, Mr Abela said that if government had increased the agencies' budgets, it had not done so capriciously.

The budgets were increased because of the pressing need for more funds they required to offer their services, he added.

Mr Abela said that when the figures were given in Parliament, no breakdown was given as to from where the agencies would be making the savings.

"It is unclear whether any planned projects will have to be shelved or if social services will be curtailed," Mr Abela said.

€2.5 million a day allocated to the social sector - government

In a reply, the government said it allocated €2.5 million a day to the social sector.

It had increased the expenditure to help those most in need, particularly children and vulnerable families, to provide more services for people with a disability and to help the elderly and widows with more social benefits.

Moreover, the budget of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and its three agencies was increased annually and this year it was €1.6 million more than it was in 2010 and €1 million more than it was last year. The government was allocating the foundation more than €13.6 million.

The ministry said that the government’s expenditure on social benefits this year totalled €749 million. This was an increase of €124 million on 2008.