[PIO] Address by the President of the Republic at the Celebration of the large families of the Larnaca District Secretariat for Large Families

The greeting was read by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Mrs.Marilena Evangelou

It is always with great pleasure that I participate in events for large families. I am here today, representing the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Nikos Christodoulides and I convey to you his warm greetings.

Allow me to congratulate the President of the Pancyprian Organization of Large Families Mr. Mr. Dinos Olympios and Mr. Charalambos Zenonos, President of the Larnaca District Secretariat for the multi-dimensional and multi-faceted work they carry out as defenders of the interests and rights of large families.

Dealing with the under-fertility and demographic ageing of the population, which has a chain effect on a number of sectors, is a political priority of the Government, as the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Christodoulides himself stated during the special meeting of the Council of Ministers on the 2025 targets.

Specifically, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare aims to further strengthen families and children through three (3) axes. [*]Strengthening policies to reconcile work and family life, mainly through services. [*]The protection of children, in particular children of large families.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the one year of Nicos Christodoulides' government, we have achieved steps forward and together, through the continuous dialogue with the Pancyprian Organization of Multiparent Families, we continue on this path that we started.

1. On July 11, during the last plenary session of the Parliament, the amendment of the Child Benefit was unanimously passed, so that students of large families are included in the benefit with 50% of the benefit, as the government's decision last October.
2. It was also unanimously voted to increase the Child Benefit by 5%, which is also subject to the increase in the ATA. Both of these measures are retroactive to January 1, 2024.
3. Recently, the Council of Ministers approved the proposal of the State Ministry of Social Welfare for the new Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for Children up to four (4) years of age, as well as the expanded Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for Children aged four (4) to four (4) years and six (6) months for the year 2024-2025.
4. For the months of March, April, May and June 2024, a lump sum of 100 euros for each first child, increased by 50 euros for each additional child, with a maximum amount of 250 euros and an additional amount of 100 euros for families with more than four (4) dependents.
5. In May 2023, a one-off summer allowance was granted to families with three or more children for a total amount of approximately two (2) million, from which 25,000 children benefited. In the same period, the honorary allowance for large mothers was increased for all income categories. More than 16 thousand large mothers benefited.
   1. Maternity leave was increased by one month so that new working mothers could spend more time with their child.
   2. Increased maternity leave for hospitalisation of newborn children by two weeks
   3. Included self-employed parents among the beneficiaries of parental leave.
   4. The examination time for childbirth allowance has been accelerated and is now paid to beneficiaries within fifteen days of application and
   5. The grant for the purchase of a new electric vehicle for large families has been increased this year from EUR 9,000 to EUR 20,000.

Further, we are strengthening quality childcare services with the creation of 30 new or expansion of existing crèches under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which will also operate in the evening hours, to serve the needs of the modern family, while in 2023 the Ministry of Social Welfare subsidized the operation of 61 crèches and 65 Child Protection and Employment Centres at a total cost of approximately 3 million.

Dear Friends,

As I have already mentioned, in the framework of the social dialogue with the Pancyprian Organization of Polychildren, our policies to support large families will be further strengthened.

We feel a multiple debt towards large families. We recognize that especially in the times we live in, with the fast pace of everyday life combined with the multiple and complex obligations caused by the modern way of life, make the role of the large families extremely important.

For our Deputy Ministry, you will always be important partners with whom we will work together to identify social needs and find ways to address them.

From this platform, I assure you that we will work with consistency and determination to develop an integrated family policy, always with a view to supporting society and the demographic development of our country.

(MΘ/AS/MΣ)
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