Five reports ordered by the Family Court through Appoġġ Agency over a five-month period did not make it to court because the parties involved “did not accept the cost”, the agency said.

As a result, the cases were put on a waiting list until a social worker from the agency’s court services section could be allocated, further adding to the heavy caseload Appoġġ is known to be struggling with.

These reports were intended to guide the judge in deciding on matters such as the care and custody of children during separation proceedings.

The parties to the cases were charged about €200 because government support agency Appoġġ outsourced them.

Last month Times of Malta ran the story of a mother who vented her frustration at a series of “inefficiencies in the Family Court” she faced during separation proceedings.

A mediator had also pointed out that the Family Court was facing a growing caseload as well as other shortcomings.

He had given the example of instances when the court appointed Appoġġ to draw up reports that never made it to court because the parties did not pay up.

Five out of the 22 did not accept to shoulder this cost

When asked about this, an Appoġġ spokesman explained that, in situations deemed appropriate, the Family Court appointed a social worker to draw up a report.

The court could appoint private social workers or else refer the cases to the agency.

In order to provide this, Appoġġ outsourced the service – but this came at a cost, the spokesman said.

Following an assessment, the social worker drawing up the report gave recommendations relating to care and custody of minors or other issues as requested by the court.

“Assessment reports are drawn up by social workers. Between August 2013 and January 2014, Appoġġ received 22 referrals from Family Court judges for such reports.

“A pool of contractees is available to produce the reports, for which the parties in question have to pay. Five out of the 22 did not accept to shoulder this cost, and thus the report could not be produced,” the spokesman said.

Set up in 2001, the agency assists the Family Court in assessments, recommendations and monitoring, mainly in cases of separation.