A bit of local diving trivia… we came across an answer to a Parliamentary Question given recently where as part of a wider question regarding MTA’s expenditure in Gozo and Comino over the last two years, the Minister for Tourism stated that the largest expense in the period by the MTA was the scuttling of the M/T Hephaestus.
The answer: “about €600,000”.
Source: Parliamentary Question 12414 in the XIV Legislature. Answered in sitting 162 on the 31/10/2023.
The Honorable CHRIS SAID asked the Honorable CLAYTON BARTOLO (Minister for Tourism):Can the Minister answer parliamentary question 9759 and say what projects have been carried out by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) in Gozo and Kemmuna during the last two years and how much was the expenditure? Can he also say what projects have been done or will be done by the MTA in Gozo and Kemmuna during the year 2023 and how much will the expenditure be?
Answer:I inform the Hon. Questioner that the Malta Tourism Authority has worked on these projects:
- · Scuttling of the ship Hephaestus to make an artificial reef. This project was carried out as part of the Diving Master Plan for Malta and Gozo with an expenditure of around €600,000.
- · Presence of lifeguards in a number of beaches in Gozo and Kemmuna with an expenditure of around €420,000 each year.
- · Restoration of the Dwejra Tower together with Din l’Art Ąlwa with an expenditure of around €260,000.
- · Fire festival with an expenditure of around €100,000.
For this year, the MTA is again covering the cost of around €420,000 for the lifeguards at the beaches, while they are working to help Din l’Art Helwa in the restoration work of the Tower of Commune at a cost of around €250,000. They will be giving help in the restoration project of two paintings by Michele Busuttil inside the Cathedral of Gozo for an expenditure of around €35,000.
Auto-translated to English from the Maltese version at https://pq.gov.mt/PQWeb.nsf/7561f7daddf0609ac1257d1800311f18/c1257d2e0046dfa1c1258a59003ecfe8!OpenDocument
One question a taxpayer might ask, was it worth it?
Some divers said it was a good addition to the 3 wrecks zone, creating another option for a dive there and making the site more interesting. Some others complain because it’s pretty deep (max depth ca. 46m) and further away than normal shore divers would like it. However it’s been contributing to the boom in scooters and rebreather divers. Boat dives have also been plenty.
If someone wants to do the maths – please let us know and we’ll happily publish their workings (and credit the individual(s)!
unfortunately the Minister didn’t identify any new investments related to diving around Gozo and Comino planned in 2023 (as that was the year the answer was given on 31/10/2023, even though the PQ was asked on 06/06/2023). Maybe the question was lost somewhere… like our enquiries about the Diving Strategy – more on that in the near future as we have had some developments from the MTA.
Divers also hope something is being slated for 2024, though in budget 2024 we didn’t see any specific reference in the Tourism, Gozo, Heritage or Energy ministries estimates. The line items we could identify were only €100k for the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit funding, €500k for Marine Protected Areas and €150k for Marine Litter Campaign.