Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the House that households on the Social Register of Mauritius (SRM) who choose to sign the social contract with the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) are provided with support through numerous schemes meant to empower these beneficiaries to move out of poverty. If these households comply with the requirements of the contract over a period of two years, they are provided continued support for one additional year. If the beneficiaries consider that they still need support after these three years, they may apply again to be on the Social Register of Mauritius. If they are found eligible, they are placed anew on the SRM and are called to sign a new social contract with the NEF. For Rodrigues, applicants have to submit their applications at any one of the four offices at the level of the Commission for Social Security falling under the RRA. I am informed that these applications are processed and visits are conducted by officers of the Commission within a month on average. The applications and reports of visit are then forwarded to the SRM Unit of the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, where the eligibility test is carried out at the end of each month. If found eligible, these families are notified and invited to sign the social contract with NEF. I am informed that the average time taken by NEF Rodrigues to process these contracts would be one month. Thus, it would be reasonable to state that the time between the application date at the Commission for Social Security of RRA and the finalisation of the new contract with the beneficiary would take around three months. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that as at 30 April 2026, there was a total of 6,888 households on the Social Register of Mauritius, made up of 4,301 household in Mauritius and 2,587 households in Rodrigues. This represents a total of 25,240 individuals with 16,329 individuals in Mauritius and 8,911 individuals in Rodrigues. I am also informed that out of these, as at 30 April 2026, there was a total of 5,430 beneficiaries who signed the social contract and benefited from support from the National Empowerment Foundation, made up of 3,373 household in Mauritius and 2,057 household in Rodrigues. This represents a total of 20,092 individuals with 13,093 individuals in Mauritius and 6,999 individuals in Rodrigues. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the House may please note that payment of a monthly subsistence allowance is effected to all SRM eligible households that have signed a social contract with NEF by mid-month, systematically each month at the level of my Ministry. This is the case for Rodrigues beneficiaries, too. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Yes, hon. François.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I understand the visits are taking longer than one month. May I ask the hon. Minister whether his Ministry and NEF are agreeable to consider paying overtime as it used to be at times to the limited number of staffs at Regional Assembly level, as I understand they don't have the budget for same to expedite matters on these SRM NEF cases inquiries when the list at times consists of more than 500 cases to attend to?

As it stands and the law as it is, the Commission for Social Security is budgeted under the RRA. But according to figures that I have, from 01 July 2025 and 31 of May 2026, the number of applications received was 1,614 and the number of visits effected was 1,444, which means nearly 90% of the application have been attended and visited, and the number of visits not effected is 170. I would consider this normal given that the span of time but if there is a need, I will meet the Commissioner of Social Security this Friday. I can raise the matter with him.

On the same breath, hon. Minister, you replied to me during an adjournment matter. Will your Ministry complete and implement a new review mechanism of the system of approval and payment to – you said three months –but I understand it goes beyond those three months. Are you coming with a new mechanism in that direction?

The three months is for Rodrigues and Mauritius, too but the whole process of the National Empowerment Programme, the payment as well as social integration and empowerment are being reviewed in the context of the budget.

Okay.

Okay, the next question. Hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière. MAURITIUS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION – MR S.S, PRESIDENT – APPEAL DISMISSAL