Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said yesterday he was intent on ending “once and for all” seven years of lawbreaking whereby the Welfare Committee, legally bound to use funds withheld from pensioners’ cheques in old people’s homes for the benefit of those pensioners, had not strictly adhered to this regulation.

Answering a question by Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis on a national plan or structures to see to the needs of ageing people all over the country, Dr Farrugia said he had spoken to his ministry’s directors and permanent secretary to see to it that things were done right.

He had recently reappointed the Welfare Committee – which includes a representative of the Opposition – because it was “not right” for a single person to be handling some €3 million a year.

In Dr Farrugia’s view, one stumbling block over the years had been that the ministry of health and the parliamentary secretariat for ageing had been part of the same ministry and shared resources.

Answering another question by Jason Azzopardi (PN), the minister confirmed that the project at the erstwhile Pace Grasso grounds at Paola would include a number of social specialities dealing specifically with senior citizens and welfare in the whole region.

It would also include a day shelter and a night shelter, but with regard to old people’s homes the government preferred to work in public-private partnerships.

Dr Farrugia also said that the first night shelter in Gozo would “soon” be inaugurated at Għajnsielem.

A number of places had also been identified for night shelters in Malta.