Government is committed to helping vulnerable groups by increasing its support to NGOs, Family Minister Chris Said said this afternoon.

Speaking during a press conference he pointed out that, contrary to what the Labour Party was claiming, government help to NGOs for 2012 had increased by some €500,000 over the previous years. The money was already given or committed to them.

He pointed out that, this year, government allocated over €2.8 million to 28 organisations from the NGO Fund. Apart from that, for the first time, the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector gave €60,000 to 20 NGOs.

In addition, another €2 million were given to projects and initiatives from the 2012 Budget – an increase in €250,000 over 2011. Government also forked out €795,000 to help 36 projects benefit from €14 million worth of EU funds, he said.

When asked whether government would be giving more funds to the Inspire Foundation – which recently declared it would have to cut back on therapy offered to children due to a lack of funds – he said government was committed to helping the foundation.

Meetings had been held with the foundation during which government agreed to find a way to help. It was considering reaching an agreement to offer services rather than give out money, he said.