Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/739617
maltatoday, TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2015 5 Budget 2017 maltatoday, TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2016 BUDGET MEASURES Fund from IIP proceeds to open for national projects and local councils pilot project €250,000 tax credit for investors in SMEs or funds registered on Alternative Trading Plat- form of Malta Stock Exchange Tax credits for employers offering voluntary private pension schemes to their employees Rollout of wifi hotspots to continue with the aim of making Malta the first wifi state world- wide Studies on a Malta – France submarine fibre optic cable to further reduce dependency on current structures €3.2 million for second fibre optic link be- tween Malta and Gozo to make Gozo more attractive to digital business Gozo student subsidy to be extended to stu- dents attending private higher education in- stitutions in Malta Up to €25,000 in grants for individuals from deprived backgrounds to open their own busi- ness 25% to 45% tax credit on research related ini- tiatives by businesses Planning fees for manufacturing projects in industrial estates to be reduced Abolishment of trading licences for most commercial activities will save 30,000 busi- nesses €70 to €1,000 annually New shop opening hours regulations to come into place in 2017 Graduates from post secondary institutions opening small business will be exempt or get tax deduction for two-year audit Analysis of public call to transform former Mtarfa Naval Hospital into private interna- tional independent school Gzira Gardens to get new yacht marina, Mar- sascala also to be examined €50,000 tax credit for restaurants, €200,000 for hotels to carry out renovation works Justice and home affairs Prosecutions to be handled by Attorney Gen- eral's office rather than Police Point penalty system to be extended to all drivers Appointments of chairpersons of regulatory entities and ambassadors to undergo Parlia- mentary scrutiny Public consultation on introduction of right of parent to use sick leave entitlement in case of sick children Cohabitation Bill and Bill outlawing conver- sion therapies to be enacted Public consultations on extending right of 16-year-olds to vote in EP and general elec- tions, and on blood donations by LGBTIQ persons Health Plans for new Mother and Child Hospital to start in 2017 New free healthcare services to be made ac- cessible for diabetics New leave entitlement for those undergoing cancer treatment to be introduced Smoking in cars in the presence of children to become illegal Arts and sports New public swimming pools in Cottonera Sport Complex and Marsascala New sport complex in Santa Venera and up- grading of Ta' Qali basketball pavilion New National Fund for Excellence to finance training and continuous professional develop- ment for artists More than 50 local theatres will be upgraded to form a new platform for artistic produc- tions Preparations for Valetta 2018 in full swing with new Arts Museum, Valletta Design Clus- ter, the Old Market and other projects Preparations for requests for proposals for re- generation of old fishmarket site, Evans Build- ing, and St Elmo Examination Centre €23 million to be invested in six-year project to install lifts and upgrade 211 housing buildings which host 4,400 persons First units in €50 million housing project to be developed in 2017 €1 million earmarked for project to give person- al assistant to persons with disability More independent living centres for persons with disability in community to be opened Informal carers to be given respite services to help them not fall victims to social exclusion Deficit target of 1.1% for 2016, bringing it down to 0.7%. Debt to go down to 63.3%. 2017 targets are 0.5% and 61.9%, lowest in 18 years Education and employmet Works to start on 3 new primary schools in St Paul's Bay, Marsascala and Victoria, Gozo Upgrades at St Julian's, Rabat, Santa Lucia, Guardian Angel and San Miguel schools Student stipends to increase yet again. More students to be eligible for supplementary grant Stipends to be extended to students taking the Alternative Training Programme in hospital- ity, welding, manufacturing All Year 4 students in all schools will get tablet More teachers will have access to a one year paid sabbatical to further their studies University of Malta to get extension of materi- als engineering labs, university residence and community car park, MCAST to get new engi- neering institute and library building Infrastructure Works to extend Pinto Wharf to be second berth for 300-metre cruise liners Works on new Institute for Tourism Studies campus at Smart City to start in 2017 New government entity to coordinate func- tions responsible for upkeep and cleanliness of public spaces Community compensation projects in Birzeb- bugia, Fgura, Marsaxlokk, Mosta, Paola Government to earmark committed publicly owned site within development zone for ad- ministrative centre outside Valletta Gozo Works on Gozo swimming pool complex PPP to start in 2017 Request for proposals to be issued on Valletta – Gozo fast ferry service First phase of call for design, build and operate sub seabed Malta – Gozo tunnel to be issued in 2017 White Paper to be issued on devolution of ad- ministrative functions for Gozo A new fund will seek to redress overtime arrears for police officers Works to extend Pinto Wharf to be second berth for 300-metre cruise liners