[attach id=291962 size="medium"]Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said a call for another 100 soldiers has been issued, and the AFM would receive a new helicopter. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia told Parliament yesterday that the project for digital identity cards was in the final stages and renewal would start shortly.

Winding up the debate on the budget vote for his ministry, Dr Mallia said the previous government had signed the contract for the ID card project in 2006 and had not yet started it, when it was supposed to have been completed in 2010.

The €7 million project was in the final testing phases and would start shortly.

Speaking on Corradino Correctional Facility, he said that upon taking office he discovered that the management committee had only met three times in the previous 18 months.

He embarked on a plan to address problems of negligence.

His ministry had adopted a zero-tolerance attitude to drug abuse in the facility, where under the previous Administration there had been a case where an inmate cultivated a cannabis plant in his cell.

Investigations had also led to capturing a vehicle that was being used to carry drugs into the facility.

After 15 years, the young offenders unit – YOURS – was being moved from Corradino to Mtaħleb, where a new project was underway.

The parole system was being implemented with the first two prisoners going on parole last September after the Government set up the necessary structures.

The situation at the CCF tuck shop situation had been rectified.

Projects at the facility included workshops for trade courses and a structure for social workers, psychologists and psychotherapists, who were being engaged to make professional assessments. Maintenance work was carried out at the forensic ward.

The facility was also investing in the education of inmates as part of their integration programme.

Turning to the armed forces, Dr Mallia said a new helicopter would be purchased and a former RAF hangar was being restored to house two of the air squadron’s helicopters.

AFM personnel participated in special duties abroad. Soldiers had rescued more than 2,000 immigrants at sea this year.

The AFM also collaborated with Customs and police officers to seize substantial hauls of drugs, weapons and diesel. New surveillance equipment was to be bought.

Ninety recruits had been engaged anda call for an additional 100 soldiers had been issued.

He referred to PBS and said that the former Television House would be refurbished to include a production unit and offices to be rented to private production houses.

Maltese viewers were guaranteed 64 football matches in the next World Cup for free. The station would also air for free the World Cup matches in 2018 and 2022.

An agreement had been signed with RAI to train local journalists and the Italian national broadcaster would convene its national conference for 2014 in Malta.

Dr Mallia referred to initiatives to attract international film and TV productions.

The Film Commission had drafted a marketing and public relations strategy.

Maintenance work was to be carried out at the Rinella studios and the Government would support local cinemas in modernising their equipment.

The minister spoke at length on the Civil Protection Department and announced that five fire engines would be bought over the next four years to replace old ones.

Courses for firefighting volunteers would be held and new recruits would be engaged.

The Malta Disaster Plan was to be rewritten and the CPD headquarters would be moved to Mosta.

He said new initiatives had been taken to modernise the Police Force, with emphasis on a different management structure.

Investment was made in buying new equipment and a number of police stations would be refurbished.

Dr Mallia said the central visa unit had processed 75,496 applications this year.

The citizenship department had processed 763 applications for Maltese citizenship, while the total number of foreigners living in Malta stood at 22,000.

In the Land Registry there were cases where owners could prove ownership of land that had been registered under the Government or third party names. Investigations were now under way.

He concluded by appealing to the Opposition to “wake up from its slumber” and shed its negative attitude.