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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1992
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ON INCREASE
SOCIAL WELFARE
IN RESPONSE ΤΟ PRESS ENQUIRIES CONCERNING DEPARTMENT'S FINANCIAL PLANS FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR FOLLOWING HER ATTENDANCE AT A SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 1992-93 DRAFT ESTIMATES, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ROSE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET
GOODSTADT, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REITERATED THAT THE WOULD RISE BY 13 PER CENT TO $4.6 BILLION.
THE SUBVENTED SECTOR WOULD HAVE A SEVEN PER CENT RISE IN
SUBVENTIONS TO $1.5 BILLION, MRS GOODSTADT SAID.
"WE HAVE OBTAINED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE FUNDS WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE WELFARE FIELD, SHE STRESSED.
即申
THE BIGGEST SPENDING PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUK TO BE THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMMES. THESE WILL TAKE ALMOST $4 BILLION OF THE BUDGET.
"ADDITIONALLY, SCALE RATE REVISION OF 10.74 PER CENT EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE ON MARCH 6 THIS YEAR AND SEPARATE PROVISION OF SOME $365 MILLION WILL BE FORTHCOMING FOR THIS PURPOSE," MRS GOODSTADT NOTED.
FAMILY WELFARE REMAINED A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SHE SAID.
"SPENDING ON FAMILY WELFARE WOULD GO UP 14 PER CENT ΤΟ REACH $306 MILLION, INCLUDING $83 MILLION FOR FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR CHILD CARE CENTRES, AN INCREASE OF SOME $10 MILLION OVER THAT FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, SHE ADDED.
OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE ARE EFFORTS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY.
ABOUT $89 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS.
"WE WILL EXTEND THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS SCHEME то COVER THREE MORE MAGISTRACIES NEXT MONTH, SHE DISCLOSED.
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ELDERLY SERVICES WILL HAVE A BUDGET OF $30 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 26 PER CENT OVER THE CURRENT YEAR. THIS MONEY WILL BE SPENT MAINLY ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAMME, ESPECIALLY TO SPEED UP ADMISSION TO HOMES TO MAKE FULLER USE OF EXISTING FACILITIES.
MRS GOODSTADT POINTED OUT THAT SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED, WITH A SPENDING OF $83 MILLION, REMAINED OF VERY GREAT CONCERN TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
"WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR SERVICES FOR DAY AND RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS, SHE ADDED.
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FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW SHELTERED WORKSHOP-CUM-HOSTEL WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL PLACES.
/SUBVENTIONS ENABLE