An operational committee to monitor the quality of services offered by the Department of Social Welfare Standards is being set up, Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said this morning.

Addressing a news conference, the minister said the committee will be made up of representatives of government and non-governmental organisations and will establish what services need to be improved or created.

Notary Coleiro Preca said the government also intended to strengthen the existing social policy information centre.

She said that for the government, the quality of services offered to vulnerable people of society was very important and the government aim was for government services to serve as a role model for other organisations.

Parliamentary Secretary for Active Aging Franco Mercieca said that he was looking into services offered to elderly people, such as meals on wheels, home care and home help to make sure that the vulnerable were getting these services.

These services would be evaluated to ensure that those who really need them were first to get them.

Asked about the appointment of Anthony Agius Decelis as consultant for the elderly, the minister said Mr Agius Decelis, was appointed by the Prime Minister and his role at St Vincent de Paul was to be part of his parliamentary duties.

Asked whether he would continue to work at Mater Dei where he is an ECG technician, she replied he would. His job was his source of income and he was not being paid extra for his duties at St Vincent de Paul.

He was fully qualified for the task and had done his masters at St Vincent de Paul. He would act as liaison between the elderly people’s hospital and the government.