Cabinet will be discussing a reform document on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority during its next meeting, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this afternoon.

Addressing a news conference on the ministry’s achievements in the past year, the Prime Minister said that the year had been a challenging one.

A fifth of the legislature was already over and the government had carried out 25 percent of its electoral promises. Work had started on another 54 percent.

In terms of numbers 89 promises out of 353 were implemented and 191 were in process.

Unemployment levels remained stable and 1,000 former shipyard employees out of the 1,400 who took early retirement schemes were already in alternative employment

A lot of work had been carried out on reforms in the past year including on rent, local councils, transport, Mepa, education, water and electricity tariffs and waste management.

Social services had increased by €52 million to €624 million.

On the challenges ahead, the Prime Minister said that the pressures were big but employment would remain a priority.

Asked about the deficit, the Prime Minister said this was under control. Special measures had to be taken to save jobs last year and mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on families.

“I don’t regret the increase in the deficit because the intentions were good,” he said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario Demarco said that Malta had a lack of tourism information offices and his secretariat was currently in discussions with Maltapost to make use of its 68 branches as tourist information offices. He said that no decision had been taken yet on a new branding exercise.

Parliamentary Secretary for public dialogue Chris Said said that a funding unit within MEUSAC, which assisted NGOs with their applications for EU funding, had completed 40 applications for a total of €6.7 million. Another 70 applications were to be submitted in May.

Photo: DOI - Omar Camilleri.