WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1977
SHE FELT THAT INCENTIVES LIKE TAX DEDUCTIONS WOULD URGE MORE EMPLOYEES TO JOIN THE CONTRIBUTORY INSURANCE SCHEME, AND PROPOSED THAT WHEN THIS COMES INTO EFFECT, THE SETTING UP OF A SEPARATE OFFICE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY MATTERS IS DESIRABLE AS NOT ALL SOCIAL SECURITY MATTERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE DEALT WITH BY TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS WHOSE SERVICE MAY BE MORE NEEDED IN OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES.
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SHE ASKED FOR MORE MULTI-PURPOSE SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES, ESPECIALLY +HOME HELP+ AND COUNSELLING, AND HOPED FOR CONCRETE PROPOSALS IN THE FORTHCOMING GREEN PAPER ON PERSONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH.
ON REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER THOUGHT ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL AIMS SHOULD BE INTEGRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL INTO SOCIETY.
INSTITUTIONS FOR THE HANDICAPPED SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOCIETY AND NOT BANISHED TO OUTLYING AREAS +BETWEEN THE GARBAGE DUMP AND BURIAL PLACES FOR THE DEAD, SHE SAID.
THEY SHOULD ALSO BE KEPT AS SMALL AS PRACTICABLE SO THAT MAXIMUM SUPPORT COULD BE GOT FROM CONTACT WITH THE ABLE-BODIED, SHE ADDED.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT MORE CO-ORDINATION WITH THE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS WAS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE VARIOUS SPECIALIST WORK IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION.
A LARGE NUMBER OF TRAINED PERSONNEL WERE ALSO REQUIRED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES, SHE SAID, AND SHE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACTIVELY CONSULT WITH THE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTES TO INCREASE THE IR TRAINING CAPACITIES. SHE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT PART-TIME OR PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSES SHOULD BE INCREASED.
SHE PLEADED FOR MORE REALISTIC PLANNING OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES, AND FOR GREATER AND BETTER USE OF PART-TIME COURSES, TO ENABLE NEW ENTRANTS TO THE FIELD TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER AN INITIAL SHORT INTRODUCTORY COURSE.
SHE WELCOMED THE ADVENT OF NINE YEARS OF FREE EDUCATION
IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO FORM 111 LEAVERS IN SENIOR SECONDARY FORMS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND ADULT EDUCATION COURSES. SHE HOPED THAT PRIORITY BE GIVEN TO THE PROVISION OF SUBSIDIZED SCHOOLING TO STUDENTS WHO WANT IT UP TO THE SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE LEVEL. AT LEAST AIDED SCHOOL PLACES EITHER IN SENIOR SECONDARY OR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL FORM THREE LEAVERS.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME WOULD SERVE THE COMPARATIVELY AFFLUENT FAMILIES, OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING PLANS SHOULD AIM AT BENEFITING THE MORE NEEDY GROUPS.
/SHE HOPED
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