Government Notices published in Govt. Gazette No. 20,839 of 19th April 2022

Appointment of Permanent Secretary

THE PRESIDENT of Malta, on the advice of the Public Service Commission, in accordance with the provisions of Article 92 (3) of the Constitution of Malta appointed Mr Joseph Chetcuti as Permanent Secretary with effect from 8th April, 2022 up to 7th April, 2026.

Appointment of Permanent Secretary

THE PRESIDENT of Malta, on the advice of the Public Service Commission, in accordance with the provisions of Article 92 (3) of the Constitution of Malta appointed Mr Emanuel Psaila as Permanent Secretary with effect from 8th April, 2022 up to 7th April, 2026.

Appointment of Permanent Secretary

THE PRESIDENT of Malta, on the advice of the Public Service Commission, in accordance with the provisions of Article 92 (3) of the Constitution of Malta appointed Mr Carlos Tabone as Permanent Secretary with effect from 8th April, 2022 up to 7th April, 2026.

IT is notified for general information that the following Legal Notice was published in the Supplement to the Government Gazette No. 20,831 of 11th April, 2022 (Legal Notice 118).

L.n. 118 of 2022: Medicines Act (Cap. 458); Testing of COVID-19 (Amendment) Regulations, 2022.

Grant on the Purchase of Special Equipmentfor Use by Persons with Disability

WITH reference to Government Notice number 1391, that was published on the 5th November, 2019, in Government Gazette number 20,290, this grant scheme 'Grant on the Purchase of Special Equipment for use by Persons with Disability' is being amended as follows.

In order for the Government to assist persons with disability that need to purchase special equipment required to live an independent life, the Ministry for Finance and Employment issued the following scheme:

1. Interpretation

In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires:

'applicant' means any person who is a resident in Malta and who is registered as a person with disability with the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, or any other person or entity applying in the name of a disabled person who is registered as disabled with the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability;

'application' means the application made for a grant under this scheme;

'effective date' means the 1st January 2020;

'Malta' means the islands of Malta;

'person' means a natural person and does not include any organisational entity;

'person residing in Malta' means a natural person who  holds a legally valid identification document issued in terms of the Identity Card and Other Documents Act (Cap. 258) or who has a residence permit or equivalent documentation issued by a competent national authority;

'entity' means an organisation that is registered as a Non-governmental Organisation with the Commission for Voluntary Organisations;

'fiscal receipt' means a receipt as defined in the Thirteenth Schedule to the Value Added Tax (Cap. 406), as subsequently amended, and also includes any regulation made under the same Act;

'special equipment' means any type of equipment that is included in schedule (B) that is annexed to this notice and that is intended for the use of persons with disability and specifically aimed to improve their level of life and independence;

'purchase price of the equipment' means the total purchase price of  the complete equipment including VAT and which purchase price has been paid in full by the applicant prior to applying for this grant.

2. Area of applicability

This scheme applies to the expenditure that is incurred on the purchase price of the special equipment by the applicant, and which equipment is purchased by the applicant on the effective date or afterwards during the duration of this scheme. 

3. Expenditure to be reported

The expenditure to be reported is in respect of the purchase price of the special equipment as defined in paragraph 1 above.

4. Manner of application and supporting documents

(i) Applications under this scheme shall be made either on the form set out in schedule (A) annexed to this scheme, and shall contain all the information, details and documents as required in the said form and in terms of this scheme, or else via the official electronic portal/s.

(ii) Submission of application

Applications submitted by hand or post shall include the following:

(a) the Special Identity Card number of the person with disability for whom this application is being made, as issued by the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability;

(b) in the case where an application is being made in the name of a person with disability, a copy of the Identity Card of the applicant, or, in the case of the lack of an Identity Card, a copy of any other official document of identity as referred to in the interpretation of a 'person residing in Malta' in paragraph 1 of this scheme;

(c) in the case of an entity that is applying on behalf of a person with disability, the registration number with the Commission for Voluntary Organisations, together with the details of the person with disability on behalf of whom that entity is applying.  The details shall include the name of the person with disability who is going to benefit from the equipment, the address and the Special Identity Card number of the person on behalf of whom the entity is applying;

(d) the original fiscal receipt relating to the purchase of the special equipment, together with the original invoice indicating the type of special equipment purchased. 

In the case of special equipment not purchased from Malta the original invoice issued by the supplier indicating the type of special equipment purchased, together with the delivery note, the original documentary proof that final payment has been effected, and clearance from Maltapost/Department of Customs Malta as may be required. These documents must confirm that the special equipment was really purchased; that the purchase price of the special equipment which price includes duty and VAT as may be required was really paid in full; that such a purchase was effected by the purchaser for the applicant; and that the special equipment was delivered to the applicant's residence or to the residence of the person with disbility for whom the application would have been made.  The special equipment  must also have a certificate of conformity with EU standard safety regulations, as may be required;

(e) any other document which the Minister for Finance and Employment may, from time to time, require.

Applications submitted via the official electronic portal/s.

The applicant shall furnish the details of the invoices/fiscal receipts and any further documentation required to be submitted as required on the indicated portal. Provided that, the original fiscal receipts/invoices and relevant documentation shall be kept by the applicant for a period of not less than two years from the date of application and produced upon request to the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue for verification purposes.

Failure to produce any such documents upon request the applicant will be obliged to refund the amount paid under the scheme and in the case of a fraudulent application criminal action in terms of the Criminal Code (Cap. 9) will be taken against him.

In the case of special equipment not purchased from Malta the original invoice issued by the supplier indicating the type of special equipment purchased, together with the delivery note, the original documentary proof that final payment has been effected, and clearance from Maltapost/Department of Customs Malta as may be required, must be retained by the applicant for a period as stipulated above. These documents must confirm that the special equipment was really purchased; that the purchase price of the special equipment which price includes duty and VAT as may be required was really paid in full; that such a purchase was effected by the purchaser for the applicant; and that the special equipment was delivered to the applicant's residence or to the residence of the person with disbility for whom the application would have been made.  The special equipment must also have a certificate of conformity with EU standard safety regulations, as may be required;

(iii) Only those applications that are found to conform with the provisions of this scheme shall be eligible for payment of the grant referred to in paragraph 5 of this scheme.

(iv) Applications under this scheme, and where applicable the documents required to be submitted with the application should be submitted by not later than six months from the purchase of the special equipment.

Application forms can be:

Submitted by hand at Ċentru Servizz Familja, Triq Emvin Cremona, Floriana FRN 1290;

Sent by post to Aġenzija Sapport at the address Triq Patri Ġwann Azzopardi, Santa Venera SVR 1614;

Submitted via the official electronic portal/s.

It is recommended that if documents are sent by post, registered mail should be used. Application forms are available on (www.finance.gov.mt) or on (www.sapport.gov.mt).

Applications received 'late', that is after the sixmonth period, shall be demed to be invalid applications.

5. Grant payable under this scheme

(a) Eligible applicants may apply for a grantof not more than 4.5% on the purchase price of the special equipment as listed in part one of schedule (B) and for a grant of not more than 17.5% on the purchase price of the special equipment as listed in part two of schedule (B), subject to a maximum capping of €1,000.

(b) This capping will be applicable for a five year period from when the individual would have benefitted from the first grant.  Therefore an individual is able to apply multiple times for this grant scheme but the cumulative amount of the grant/s received cannot be more than the indicatedmaximum capping.  This will apply for a period of five years.

(c) In case of  persons who have already benefited from the grant of the previous scheme related to the purchase of special equipment for use by persons with disability, applicable conditions under clause 5 of the grant scheme issued in terms of Government Notice number 951, that was published on the 1st September, 2017, in Government Gazette number 19,587, and  as subsequently amended by Government Notice number 164, that was published on 9th February, 2018, in Government Gazette number 19,946, shall be kept in force within their terms and conditions and shall continue to be effective and binding, subject that the maximum capping shall be €1,000. This capping will be applicable for a five-year period from when the individual would have benefitted from the first grant and the cumulative amount of the grant/s received cannot be more than the indicated maximum capping even if this was obtained in virtue of the said grant published by Government Notice number 951 and subsequently amended by Government Notice 164.

6. Payment of grant

The grant will be credited to the applicant, or to the parent/s/ legal guardian/s in the case of applicants under the age of sixteen, in the bank account that is indicated in the application.

7. Validity of application

An application shall not be deemed to be valid unless:

it is full and complete in all material aspects;

it is accompanied by all the relevant documentation/ details as required;

it is submitted to the indicated office by not later than six months from the date of purchase of the special equipment as is stipulated in paragraph 4 of this scheme.

8. Duration of the scheme

This scheme shall remain in force for an indefinite period from the effective date, until such time that the Minister for Finance and Employment may opt to modify/ terminate it by a notice to be published in the Government Gazette

9. Amendments to the scheme

The Minister for Finance and Employment reserves the right to make any amendments to this scheme by the publication of the said amendments in the Government Gazette.

SCHEDULES

Schedule A – Application Form

Schedule B – List of Eligible Special Equipment

Declaration by the LANDS AUTHORITY

I hereby declare that the under-mentioned land, which is Government property, is required for a public purpose in accordance with the provisions of the Government Lands Act (Cap. 573) of the Laws of Malta.

Description of the Land

The following land at Ħaż-Żabbar:

A plot of land measuring about 78 square metres, bounded on the North, on the East and on the South East by Government property or more precise boundaries and is registered on Authority records as part of tenement number E00038.

The above-mentioned land at Triq Wied il-Għajn is being terminated for the widening of a road.

The above-mentioned land is shown marked with the colour blue on plan P.D. 67_2003_1, which may be viewed on demand at the Lands Authority, Auberge de Baviere, Valletta.

(Sgd) Dr John Vassallo

Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Lands Authority

the Electoral Commission notifies that the candidate elected as Councillor in the casual election held on Tuesday, 19th April, 2022 for the Local Council of Bormla to fill the post vacated by Ms Alison Zerafa Civelli is that whose name is shown hereunder:

GATt RITA

J. CAMILLERI

Chief Electoral Commissioner

Office of the Electoral Commission,

Ex-Trade Fair Grounds,

In-Naxxar.

THE Commissioner of Inland Revenue notifies that, on the date shown hereunder, the price of gold and silver on which valuations made by the Consul for Goldsmiths and Silversmiths are based has been fixed for the purposes of article 14 of the said Act as follows: