The Marigold Foundation, which is chaired by the Prime Minister’s wife, Michelle Muscat, was given €48,000 last year, the second-highest sum given to a voluntary organisation after Inspire.

Figures tabled in Parliament show Marigold received three payments in 2017: two of €19,200 each and one of €9,600.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo provided the information in reply to a parliamentary question tabled by Opposition MP Claudette Buttigieg.

The amount Marigold received was surpassed only by the Eden and Razzett Foundation, commonly known as Inspire, which was allocated four payments totalling €63,959.

The St Helen Musical Society of Birkirkara received the third-highest amount – €47,849.

Funds were given to about 30 organisations last year.

Data for the previous year shows Marigold was not among the voluntary organisations that received any form of funding from schemes managed by the government. The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector runs a number of schemes to support organisations in their work.

Marigold was set up in 2014 and has since been chaired by Ms Muscat. According to its website, its main objective is to “positively empower people and to work with them to raise standards, support initiatives and strengthen voices”.

The foundation was involved in a controversy two years ago when 14 female inmates at Corradino Correctional Facility complained they were owed over €16,000 for sewing curtains, clothes and 400 costumes for the Commonwealth summit held in 2015 as part of a project supported by Marigold.

It denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Muscat was named National Volunteer of the Year by the government-appointed Council for the Voluntary Sector in December.

Quarters close to the council complained that while they did not underestimate Ms Muscat’s philanthropy, her work could not be compared to the endless hours and stress volunteers endured, working tirelessly and without any form of recognition.