[PIO] Speech of the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Nikos Christodoulides at the Celebration of the Mother of Many Children

It is always with great pleasure and emotion that I participate in events to honour mothers, especially in an event like today's, when we honour mothers of many children. Mothers who gave birth to and raised five or more children, mothers who sent four children to the National Guard - I salute the presence of the Chief of the National Guard - older mothers who gave birth to four children or who sent three of their children to the National Guard, like my own mother.

I stand before these mothers with feelings of gratitude and pride for all that they have offered and continue to offer, through sacrifice and struggle, to society as a whole.

My presence here today - along with the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Social Welfare, the Commissioner for Equality and other state officials - among many others, underlines the recognition of this invaluable contribution. There is no doubt that mothers with many children need the practical support of the State through a combination of services and benefits. As a government, and I myself personally, coming from a large family and being the father of a large family, we have placed the support of large families, as well as policies concerning large families and children in general, very high on our priorities.

It is an issue that should concern us all, in addition to statements, events and fine speeches. Today the birth rate in our country is 1.3%. In order to be able to replenish the population in 25 years, the birth rate must rise to at least 2.1%. So, we have a lot of work to do, all of us, the State, the legislature, you who constantly put forward your demands, in order to meet this huge challenge.

In our one year of governance we have made significant progress and, of course, the political will is strong to continue implementing our Governance Programme.

You referred to our 12 decisions in 15 months, almost one decision per month. If we continue in this way, at least until 2028 there will be at least 50 decisions.

So, listening to your suggestions, most of which are also included in our Governance Programme, we started this process:

1. In October 2023, the Government decided on a 5% increase in Child Benefit, which was also subject to an increase in the ATA. It affects around 60,000 families at a total cost of 3.7 million.

1. In the same month, in response to your request, the Government approved the inclusion of students of large families in the Child Benefit by paying 50% of the Child Benefit, at a cost of 3.3 million per year.

1. In May 2023, an allowance was granted to families with three or more children totalling approximately two million, from which 25,000 children benefited.

1. In the same period, the honorary allowance for large mothers was increased for all income categories. More than 16 thousand mothers of large families benefited, at an annual cost of around EUR 800 000.

1. In June 2023, again in response to your request, the Government approved the extension of the Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for children up to four years old to all beneficiaries of the Child Benefit, with a subsidy of up to 80% of kindergarten and nursery fees. The cost of the scheme amounts to €16 million per year. Following this decision, the beneficiaries have increased by 40%.

1. At the same time, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, which is responsible for coordinating our policy on the issues of large families, is working on and the Deputy Minister will very soon announce a new Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for children up to four years and five months old, using the same criteria I mentioned above, which will be implemented in September 2024, at a total cost of three million euros.

1. In February 2024, a lump sum was granted to beneficiaries of the Child Allowance on the basis of criteria of EUR 100 for each first child, increasing by EUR 50 for each additional child, up to a maximum of EUR 250.

1. At the same time, and taking into account that enhanced state support for working parents and especially for mothers who bear the largest share of responsibility is of paramount importance, the Government increased by one month the maternity leave so that new working mothers can spend more time with their child.

1. At the same time, we have increased maternity leave for hospitalisation of newborn children by two weeks.

1. We included self-employed parents among the beneficiaries of parental leave, so that no working parent is deprived of the time they can spend with their children.

1. In response to your request, we have accelerated the review time for childbirth allowance, and it is now paid to beneficiaries within one month. In the very near future, we will announce an increase in the childbirth allowance, which will increase as the number of children increases.

1. In addition to the above, we should also add the grant for the purchase of a new electric vehicle for large families, which has been increased this year from EUR 9,000 to EUR 20,000. Due to the increased interest, an extension of the scheme for even more families was announced.

Further, in the context of strengthening family policies and supporting children with quality childcare services, we are strengthening childcare services by establishing 30 new or expanding existing daycare centres under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which was initiated by the previous Government.These centres will also operate in the evening hours to serve the needs of the modern family.

In the same context, in 2023 the State Ministry of Social Welfare subsidized the operation of 61 nurseries and 65 Child Protection and Employment Centres at a total cost of about three million.

Today you have submitted two requests. Because I want when I make promises to be able to respond, I am announcing that your first request, concerning the super-children, has been accepted and will be passed by the Cabinet. You assume that the decision will be taken on behalf of the Government.

The second one will be processed and then I will answer you responsibly. I told you that we will announce in a very few days the childbirth allowance which is important.

Also, the tax reform of the state is underway and there will be what was wrongly abolished and there will be the link with the family. At the same time, we will take the opportunity of welcoming the representative of the corresponding Greek organisation to announce that we are proceeding with a proposal to the Greek Government to sign a bilateral agreement whereby the holders of a polychild card in Cyprus will be able to use it in Greece.

My assurance to you all today is that in the framework of the social dialogue with the Pancyprian Organisation of Polychildren, which is already underway, our policies for the support of large families will be further strengthened.

And precisely because your Organization is our closest partner, on the basis of my announcement last year at the same celebration, this year we have increased the amount of sponsorship to the Pancyprian Organization of Polygamous Mothers in order to honor more mothers with many children.

I feel our debt to the mothers of many children is multiplied. As a child of a large family myself, and as a large father, I know all too well the needs, challenges, struggles and sacrifices required within a large family. Of course, whatever the sacrifices and needs, nothing but nothing can replace the blessing of living and growing up in a large family.

Dear mothers of many children, I express to you my appreciation and my unreserved respect for your valuable contribution to the building of our society. On behalf of the State, I would like to assure you that we will always be at your side.

(PM/NZ/EP)
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