30 teenage pregnancies in 2010 registered unknown father

Thirty babies born to teenage mothers in 2010 were registered as having an unknown father, according to Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia.

According to the minister, teenage pregnancies increased from 196 in 1999 to 269 in 2008.

In 2010, 212 children were born to teenage mums, 30 of which were registered as having an unknown father.

Farrugia was addressing a seminar on teenage pregnancies. A national research study is ongoing to enable policy makers to develop a preventive policy for teenage pregnancy in Malta and Gozo.

The Ministry for the Family has now commissioned a study on the pathways to single parenthood. Farrugia said the ministry believed education and knowledge were the keys to prevention.

The minister said the government had to address “the problem” of unknown fathers while insisting that the government was fighting the so-called “benefit trap”, which he insisted was being inherited from one generation to another.

“We have to help families as much as possible not to get caught in the benefit trap and depend on social benefits for life. Benefits should help persons to get out of the poverty line but it shouldn’t be a way of living,” Farrugia said.

He added that individuals should be empowered through education.

Parliamentary secretary for EU funds Ian Borg said the government will be allocating €25 million over six years towards social inclusion.