The collective agreement that would eventually be reached for university staff had to be sustainable and one the country afforded, Education Minister Dolores Cristina said.

Speaking during the budget debate this morning she said the government has to be sure that this agreement did not create more problems rather than solve.

The minister also announced that a child care centre is to be opened at MCAST with the help of ERDF funds.

Preparations for the building of another at the Junior College were also to be embarked upon and a scheme to financially help parents sending their children to such centres was being prepared, Ms Cristina said.

Mrs Cristina said that there was no intention to sell part of the country’s national costume collection but Heritage Malta was working with organisations which worked to promote such heritage

This organisation, she said, would soon be presenting her with a 350-page status report on 36 museums and historic site under its responsibility and another 50 sites on which work was required.

This report could be used for a future plan on where the country wanted to go could be built.