WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977
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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATE APPEAL BOARDS TO WHICH PERSONS COULD APPEAL AGAINST DECISIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
ON OLD AGE AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCES, SIR MURRAY SAID THIS SYSTEM OF PAYMENTS, BASED ON A CONDITION OF VULNERABILITY, HAD BEEN RE-EXAMINED AND IT WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN BOTH SUCCESSFUL AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF FIVE YEARS OF OPERATION THE FOLLOWING CHANGES WERE PROPOSED
* THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE BE REDUCED FROM 75 TO 70, AND THOSE BETWEEN 60 AND 70 IN GENUINE NEED BE HELPED THROUGH A SUPPLEMENT TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE-
* OLD AGE AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCES BE EXTENDED TO THOSE
LIVING IN INSTITUTIONS AND
* ALLOWANCE BE PAID TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR
DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, BUT THROUGH ILLNESS OR INFIRMITY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO WORK FOR A LONG PERIOD - THE PERIOD PROPOSED IS 18 MONTHS.
AS FOR THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY, SIR MURRAY SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S MAIN OBJECTIVE IN PLANS FOR THE ELDERLY WAS TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES THEMSELVES TO CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THEIR OLDER MEMBERS.
+ HAVE ALREADY REFERRED TO TWO SOCIAL SECURITY MEASURES WHICH WILL IN CASH TERMS ASSIST THIS OBJECTIVE. THE GREEN PAPER WILL INCLUDE PROPOSALS TO MEET THE MEDICAL AND HOUSING NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY, THE EXPANSION OF HOME HELP, THE CONSTRUCTION OF CENTRES TO PROVIDE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, AND THE EXPANSION OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE, AND OF CARE AND ATTENTION FACILITIES,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO EXPANSION OF PERSONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE RAPID EXPANSION OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE, AND PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WERE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL AND DESIRABLE IN THEMSELVES.
+1 DO NOT THINK IT IS COINCIDENTAL THAT SINCE THE EXPANSION OF THESE SERVICES THERE HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE DROP IN THE LEVEL OF JUVENILE CRIME, HE STRESSED.
+HOWEVER THERE EXISTS A SMALL MINORITY WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO DEL INQUENT INFLUENCES, AND WHO ARE NOT ATTRACTED TO ORGANISED ACTIVITIES. THESE PEOPLE REQUIRE DIRECT PERSONAL GUIDANCE AND HELP IF THEY ARE NOT TO DRIFT INTO THE CRIMINAL WORLD,+ HE ADDED.
THE NEW PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER PROVIDE FOR COMPREHENSIVE
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, A CAUTIOUS EXPANSION OF OUT-REACHING SOCIAL WORK IN AREAS KNOWN TO HAVE A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY, AND INTENSIVE EFFORTS IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, SIR MURRAY REVEALED.
IF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER AND THREE GREEN PAPERS COMMEND THEMSELVES TO THE PUBLIC AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY WOULD BE PHASED IN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH THE MAIN IMPACT ACHIEVED BEFORE THE END OF 1980, SIR MURRAY SAID.
Lan