Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533939
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 APRIL 2025 NEWS Transport reform: Strategic THE Transport Plan presented by Transport Minister Chris Bonnet on Saturday includes well-thought-out and strategi- cally placed measures targeting young and older people, en- couraging them to give up their driving licences and reduce the number of cars on the road. However, in the absence of a mass transit system and meas- ures that penalise car use, there is a risk that the reform will only marginally decrease car numbers, without fundamen- tally altering transport patterns. So how do these measures align with the broader goal of reduc- ing car dependence and ensur- ing sustainable mobility? 1. €25,000 to give up licence: Older drivers will be tempted Anyone who renounces all driving licences and car own- ership for five years will be eli- gible for a cash grant of €5,000 per year, amounting to €25,000 in total. The sum offered is attractive enough to make existing driv- ers consider the option. A lower amount would likely have re- sulted in minimal uptake. This suggests that the incentive was not devised arbitrarily but is backed by public attitude stud- ies, focus groups and surveys. While this is a way of throwing money at the problem, it is at least being done strategically. However, the government should have provided estimates on how many cars it expects to remove from the roads through this and other measures. The scheme is likely to appeal most to older individuals with- out family responsibilities. For many aged 25 to 50, juggling family duties remains a signif- icant barrier to giving up pri- vate car use. The grant could also be seen as a financial boost for retirees whose incomes de- crease after retirement. How- ever, it is crucial to ensure that the scheme is not perceived as an undignified income supple- ment, as dissatisfaction could arise if participants later regret their decision. A key drawback is that it pri- marily targets a demographic that already uses cars less fre- quently than workers and fam- ilies. At best, the measure will slightly ease traffic congestion for those who still rely on their cars and will free up some on- the-road parking slots. An up- side i The measure would have greater impact if complemented by disincentives such as parking charges and higher taxes on ve- hicles especially larger models like SUVs. 2. €6,000 cash grant for 17-year-olds choosing scooters over cars Seventeen-year-olds who opt to ride a small scooter instead of obtaining a motor vehicle li- cence at 18 and commit to this choice until age 21 will receive a grant of €1,500 per year for four years, totalling €6,000. The amount is generous and likely to attract younger indi- viduals who have fewer work and family obligations. How- ever, it is questionable why the government did not simply raise the minimum driving age to 21, which would have auto- matically reduced the number of cars on the road without any financial cost to the state. Additionally, this measure does not promote public trans- port use, as the incentive is on- ly offered to those who choose scooters, not those who opt out of driving entirely. Consequent- Transport Minister Chris Bonett has unveiled his plan to change mobility patterns and ease traffic congestion. JAMES DEBONO breaks down the key measures in the Bonett plan and questions whether these initiatives will marginally reduce the number of private cars or lead to a substantial shift in transport habits. THE Housing Authority has released the final report in a three-part series, offering a comprehensive analysis of its schemes. This publication is part of the Authority's ongoing efforts to provide up-to-date insights and ensure transpar- ency in the housing sector. This report examines schemes designed to enhance homeowners' purchasing pow- er and improve housing quality by supporting property refur- bishment expenses, thereby making homes more comforta- ble, accessible and liveable. It analyses five schemes: the First-Time Buyer Scheme (FTB), the Grant on First Res- idence Scheme (GFR), the Subsidy on Adaptation Works Scheme (ADP), the Adaptation of Pre-95 Properties Scheme (SSP) and the Scheme for Per- sons with Disability (DIS). The report concludes with an over- view of the Authority's invest- ment in lift installations. More than 12,000 families have availed themselves of these schemes, the most popu- lar being undeniably the First- Time Buyer Scheme. Since the introduction of this scheme in 2023, 4,909 house- holds have benefitted from it, with 2,136 beneficiaries receiv- ing one payment so far, while 2,773 received two payments. Excluding the FTB scheme, over 7,100 families have ben- efitted from this category of schemes between 2017 and 2024—equating to more than two households assisted per day. The Housing Authority has invested approximately €31.8 million in these five schemes since 2017, with the expend- iture increasing from around €2.5 million in 2017 to €10.6 million in 2024. This report al- so highlights that: 1. Beneficiaries of the FTB and GFR schemes tend to be younger than those benefit- ting from the ADP, DIS, and SSP schemes. They also cater for various household compo- sitions. This underscores the Authority's support for a broad spectrum of households—from younger beneficiaries purchas- ing their first residence to old- er beneficiaries adapting their homes to meet their changing needs. 2. More than half of the FTB beneficiaries purchased their property alone, with proper- ties purchased by joint benefi- ciaries tending to be more ex- pensive than those bought by single beneficiaries, reflecting different financial capacities. Single FTB beneficiaries were more likely to purchase apart- ments compared to joint ben- eficiaries. 3. 47% of buyers purchased properties in the same locality where they had previously re- sided. As part of the Authority's commitment to enhancing housing quality and making homes more accessible, this re- port concludes with an analysis of the Housing Authority's in- vestment in lift installations in government-owned properties. Between 2019 and 2024, 169 lifts were installed, benefitting 1,200 households. This equates to one lift installed every fort- night. €31.8 million invested to ease homeownership costs and improve housing quality since 2017