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The minimum children’s allowance will be up again for the second year in a row.

As from next year, the minimum children’s allowance per child will be increased by a further €100 a year reaching €450 from the current €350.

According to the budget estimates, this increase will benefit some 20,500 families with a total of some 29,000 children.

Those on the minimum wage will be given further help with an increase of €177 per child instead of €100.

The 1,100 families who are on the minimum wage will see their children’s allowance per child increase to €1,156 per child per year.

The recent increases in children’s allowances reflect a paradigm shift as until a few years ago, many families were not benefitting from the measure as their revenue was higher than the €23,000 capping at the time.

Since then the capping has been completely removed and all children started qualifying for a minimum payment.

Children, particularly those with difficult backgrounds and social problems, will be also given special attention with the provision of more funds to bolster the social services currently provided in this area.

Apart from the opening of new Aċċess centres – in Gozo and Birkirkara – support services currently offered to children on a care order will be extended to all those in care, irrespective of their legal status.

Currently some 500 children do not live with their biological parents and of these 350 are under a care order.

A total €300,000 will be invested in setting up a residential home to avoid separating siblings of different genders.

The Budget proposes the establishment of a therapeutic facility that offers security to children with behavioural problems.

It also proposes the setting up of a support programme for teenagers leaving residential care and investing in ensuring there are emergency placements.