Instead of revealing “shortcomings” by the authorities, as promised, the YMCA yesterday said it held “very positive” talks with the government, deciding to work together to make sure the minors’ shelter it ran could be saved.

This comes a day after YMCA complained that government funds had not materialised and a group of six troubled youths housed in a specialised shelter were in the process of being relocated without its consent.

The government reacted by saying YMCA had failed to submit audited accounts and that it was “concerned” by the services being offered to the minors. This prompted the YMCA to call another press conference during which it said it would rebut the claims made in its regard and highlight various government failures.

However, the reports YMCA planned to publish will instead be forwarded to officials within the Education, Labour and Family Ministry as a sign of goodwill, according to its chairman, Jean Paul Mifsud.

Mr Mifsud said the reports had already been sent to the ministry but, due to an e-mail hiccup, they had ended up in the junk mail folder.

“Now we are going to submit them by hand to make sure they are received,” Mr Mifsud said, jokingly adding that in “Smart Island” such hitches would probably not happen in the future.

The breakthrough in negotiations came yesterday after mediation by the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin.

Both parties have now decided to hold more talks over the next few weeks to thrash out their differences and find ways to make the shelter more sustainable.

Mr Mifsud said he was pleased by the ministry’s renewed “energy” to ensure the shelter was improved rather than closed down. One way of doing this was to make things more cost-efficient, seeing as the operation cost some €180,000 a year to run, with a wage bill of about €10,000 a month.

“We discussed the option of using a social worker from Aġenzija Appoġġ instead of employing our own,” Mr Mifsud said.

He stressed that, although there were disagreements, the government assured the YMCA it did not doubt its accountability or intentions, despite the official statement that seemed to suggest otherwise. “Maybe the person who wrote it got offended by what we said and drafted it in the heat of the moment. The people we met assured us they did not write it.”

He said he was surprised by the statement’s tone, seeing as the government had never stopped referring homeless people to YMCA.

Meanwhile, one of the shelter’s five remaining teenagers was given a new placement yesterday and YMCA said it agreed to the move following assurances it would be better for the person.

Until yesterday none of the four remaining youths had been removed from the YMCA, but the government may still decide to do so, according to Mr Mifsud.

“Ideally, this shelter does not need to exist. But we are sure that if these six youths are relocated and given the services they need, we will soon fill up the vacancies by others who fall through the social net,” Mr Mifsud said.

Appoġġ confirmed it was in discussions with YMCA to improve the quality of service being delivered.

“Aġenzija Appoġġ is looking into the matter on a case by case basis and the best plan of action is being developed in line with the identified needs of the minor concerned.”

A spokesman for the Family Ministry also confirmed meetings were being held and said: “there is no doubt that YMCA has at heart the good of the children.”

He added the ministry was trying to improve the efficiency of the services provided in the best interests for all.

In an official statement, the ministry said that although it was still awaiting the YMCA’s management and audit accounts, it had still allocated €110,000 from the Voluntary Organisations Fund to YMCA and another €10,000 were promised if the need arose. In addition, the YMCA also benefited from grants for children in residential homes. For eight children this amounted to €29,000 a year and this apart from electricity benefit vouchers that covered up to 75 per cent of energy consumption and another €40,000 or so from the Children and Youth Consultative Board and the High Support Service, the ministry said.