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The Ministry for Gozo and Planning is offering the services of a resident qualified botanist within the ecoGozo Directorate to the general public. The service primarily consists of identifying wild plants and trees in the Maltese Islands, particularly in Gozo. Once the name of a plant is known, it can be further appreciated through further knowledge available on the internet and in libraries. The service also provide further information and details that the public may have on the flora and natural habitats of the Maltese Islands.

Abiding with the obligation declared by EU, Malta has to take immediate action to remove the alien invasive species known as the Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) which is known to invade and smother native plant species. EcoGozo, with the kind assistance of the public, want to succour the native flora by eradicating this alien species.

The public is being kindly asked to report the place, through the myGozo mobile app, where they encounter this plant so that the department can remove them immediately and thereby safeguard Maltese plants. This plant can grow both in the wild and in urban areas (streets, squares, walls of fields, paths, land, etc.).

The Ministry for Gozo and Planning provides a number of services for the Elderly. This application form incorporates all the major services offered by the Ministry, which are:

• Be Active - Gozo (Reserve a Fitness Class)
• Home Help Service (Medical Report Required)
• Meals on Wheels Application (Medical Report Required)
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Home Admission - Gozo (Medical Report Required)
• Incontinence Service (Medical Report Required)
• Telecare
• Telephone Rent Rebate
• Active Ageing Centres
• Handyman Service
• Hairdressing
• Day Centre Għajnsielem
• University of 3rd Age
• Social Work

The Ministry for Gozo and Planning, in line with the Budget 2019 Document, will be subsidising travel costs incurred by patients when travelling between the Maltese islands for cancer treatment, renal dialysis, or for surgery at state hospitals. It will also be subsidising accomodation costs.

Maltese residents who have close residents in Gozo are presently entitled to a ‘Family Pass’. In effect this means that a pass holder is entitled to the same special fare as a Gozo Residents i.e. €8.15 for car and driver and €1.15 for foot passenger. An additional annual fee of €11.65 for car plus driver and €4.65 for foot passenger is to be paid for the renewal of the ‘Family Pass’.

The ‘Family Pass’ will only be issued to “L-ulied ta’ Ghawdxin residenti Malta” and therefore strictly restricted to persons having grandparents, parents and brothers/sisters born and residing in Gozo (not spouses, children, uncles/aunts and in-laws). Only one Pass (valid only for one person) will be issued per household and therefore spouses and children will not benefit unless the direct relative, who is resident in Malta, has passed away. In the latter case, the family must decide who would be issued with the relative Pass (i.e. the surviving parent or one of the children residing in the same house hold).

This benefit shall not apply to person having spouses, grandparents, parents children and brothers/sisters normally residing in Malta, even though their identity card may state otherwise (i.e. summer residence)

However, further to the above, the current practice which has been consistently adopted for the past decades by the Company, is that Family Passes are also issued in the following circumstances:

a. A Family Pass is issued to all members of the same household applying for a Family Pass. Thus distinct Family Passes are issued to all members in a family.
b. Applications approved by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning for exceptional cases when where parents who are separated have children living in Gozo. In this case, the Family Pass is granted by the Ministry to the parent living in Malta.

The Gozo Cultural Events Fund Scheme is a Ministry for Gozo and Planning measure for community-led creative and artistic activities in Gozo. It provides the opportunity for the development of artistic projects led by the community for the community, while celebrating cultural diversity. The fund is looking to co-finance projects which encourage active cultural participation, promote local talent and boost the community’s creative expression or appreciation of its identity