https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/7233 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:37:08 GMT 2026-04-18T01:37:08Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98509 Title: The foster care act and related public policies : a particular focus to their relevance to attract more individuals to foster Abstract: Foster Care in Malta has been in existence since 1996 and since then it has continued to evolve through various state initiatives. In 2007 the foster care act came into force with the aim of promoting and regulating this service. However, in spite of this development, there is still an irnbalance between the number of children that need foster care and available foster care placements. In this perspective, this long essay sets out to discuss the milestones relating to policy and legislation that have had the most impact on foster care. It discusses how these milestones can facilitate more individuals to foster and what hinders individuals from fostering. However, the main focus is how these policies and legislation can be improved to help bridge the present lacuna of a shortfall in sufficient foster carers. This study suggests that foster carers decide to foster for various reasons relating to their goodwill. Unfortunately, there are factors that include the children's biological parents, finance, lack of awareness and lack of permanency that hinder people from volunteering to foster. It transpires that Government can do a lot to improve the current situation, especially in relation to financial assistance provided to foster carers, improvement in the current legislation, extending family friendly policies to foster carers, investing further in the foster care sector to enable constant campaigning, enabling permanency when it is in the best interest of the child and the enactment of a comprehensive child care act that is fully compliant to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The long essay concludes that knowing the benefits of foster care, Government should constantly keep it on the national agenda and should strive to facilitate the life of foster carers by supporting them where necessary. By adopting these suggestions Government will help bridge the present lacuna of a shortfall in sufficient candidates for foster care, as more people will be willing to become foster carers. Description: DIP.POLITICAL STUD. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98509 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98415 Title: The administration of government property by local councils, sport associations and non-governmental organisations Abstract: This research study gives an overview of the legal vehicles used in the transfer of government property to Local Councils, Sports Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations, and the subsequent use of same property. The study outlines the marked developments in the administration of government property with the introduction of the decentralisation process whereby certain government property started being administered by Local Councils under specific conditions. The "devolution of public property" policy gave rise to both legislative changes and the birth to other legal instruments that permitted the administration of government property by Local Councils, Sports Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations. The project is divided into 3 sections; the first part, gives an overview of the administration of government property by Local Councils in terms of the Disposal of Government Land Act and the Local Councils Act; the second part considers the transfer of government property to the Kunsill Malti Għall-lsport in terms of the Sports Act and subsequent transfer to Sports Associations; whilst the last part gives an overview of the administration of government property by Non-Governmental Organisations with particular focus on cultural heritage entities and the Cultural Heritage Act that permits the Guardianship Deed Programme. The research also analyses the legal instruments, policies and procedures adopted to effect the transfer of government property to these entities and tests through a survey, interviews and observations whether the government property being administered by these bodies is in fact being used effectively and sustainably. The project concludes with a set of findings, that show that without the involvement of Local Councils, Sports Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations, most of the results achieved through the administration of property would not have materialized. Description: DIP.PUBLIC ADMIN. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98415 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98402 Title: Youth local councils : an analysis of their performance Abstract: The scope of this research is to analyze the performance of Youth Local Councils (YLC). The project of YLC was launched in 2009 by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ which falls under the remit of the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport. The aim of these YLC is to offer youths the opportunity to voice their opinions at a local level. The 2011/2012 edition of YLC comprises of 40 localities made up of 242 youths. The analytical aspect of this study was to explore the various processes of youth empowerment both at a local level and at a European level. Due to the similarities between the Maltese YLC and the British Youth Councils a comparative study was carried out. Being a relatively new project comparison with past performance at a local level was not possible. For this reason the research methodology was concentrated on obtaining the opinions of all the stakeholders involved. The gathering of this primary data consisted of interviews and the distribution of questionnaires. The arguments raised by these stakeholders were discussed and analyzed. These findings revealed that the majority of the stakeholders agreed that YLC may be the first step of youths into public political life. They also contended that YLCs instilled in these youth a sense of belonging in their community. On the other hand they noted that these YLCs were encountering organizational difficulties due to lack of funds, cooperation from their local council and an overall lack of organizational structure. In conclusion, after having identified the strengths and weaknesses of these YLC some proposals were put forward. These recommendations included improving the current funding of the project system, how the nomination of youths on these councils could be improved and the possibility of these youths taking part in the National Youth Parliament. Description: DIP.PUBLIC ADMIN. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98402 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98250 Title: A reformed public service : an analytical study on the gender dimension with particular emphasis on females' participation in public administration processes Abstract: This study tries to assess the social dimension with regards to the change of women's roles over the years, the gender dimension of a reformed public service and to establish whether access for women to higher positions has improved. At the same time, it will also try to establish whether there still exist barriers that hinder females' promotion into traditional positions previously occupied by males in the public service despite Malta's milestones in the field of gender equality in recent years. Women's employment rate in Malta is the lowest amidst European Union countries. This study also tries to take a closer look at some of the main factors which are leading to this low participation of women in the labour market. One of the most crucial resources for Europe's future growth is found in the 'untapped' potential of women and their full integration into the decision Civil service -- Maltamaking process in all areas of its economy. Men cannot be expected to hold back to make way for women to be promoted instead of them. Women have to be better mentally prepared, be better equipped to take every opportunity at top levels and not shy away due to family commitments and other impediments which come along their way. The Maltese Government has already implemented many policies to ease difficulties which women encounter, but with more of a push in the right direction, another milestone would be reached. Description: DIP.PUBLIC ADMIN. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/98250 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z