The government intends to get to the root of the problem of children in care, the number of whom had doubled since 2008, Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleir Preca said this morning.

Speaking during a visit to Aġenzija Appoġġ in Guardamangia, where she met the agency’s volunteers and social workers, Ms Coleiro Preca said that when she shadowed social policy in 2008, there were 300 children in out of home care. The number had now gone up to 600.

She promised to get to the root of the problem to find out why the number had doubled and tackle the problem from there.

Notary Coleiro Preca noted that certain children were sometimes referred to Appogg at night and no shelter would be available. There were not enough resources to deal with the intake.

 “We want orphanages to be empty and we will do this by getting to the root of the problem, preventing these dangers from reaching other people.”

She said that while, in a normal household, children were automatically sustained by their family when they turned 18, those in care ended up on the streets.

“The government needs to coordinate all its resources because society fails if we fail to sustain even one kid,” Notary Coleiro Preca said.

She said the country could not have any more children ending up at Mount Carmel Hospital or the prisons.

Social workers told the minister they received 90 new social cases per month. They said they offered family support, parenting skills, and social skills for the homeless.