Dar Sant' Anna a Church-run home for the elderly in Senglea, has put off an expansion project because of lack of funds.

Paul Portelli, administrator of the home, said that the home had planned to replace the ceilings of of four old disused rooms to convert them into bedrooms, a living area and a kitchenette, but funds were not available.

The fees paid by the 32 residents of the home only cover the salaries of the employees, Mr Portelli said.

The residents pay an average of €600 a month, Robert Agius, Curia finance controller said. The costs for maintenance, food, medicines and other needs are catered for by the Curia. The Senglea parish also assists.

Mr Portelli said the Curia given some €50,000 a year to the home but as the Church's financial report showed, the Curia could not afford the outlay for the extension. Costs were rising, he said, because fewer nuns were available to care for the elderly residents, and more lay people had to be engaged instead.

The home has a waiting list of 12 people.

He said the premises was bequeathed to the Church and can only be used as an old people's home.