XN000022-1992-02-27 — Page 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1992

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THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE MRS ROSE GOODSTADT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR ALSO INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL $79.5 MILLION TO FUND RECENTLY INTRODUCED AND NEW SERVICES FOR THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS.

"WE HAVE CHOSEN OUR PRIORITIES FOR NEW PROJECTS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVES SET OUT IN LAST YEAR'S WHITE PAPER. THE RESULT OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS WILL BE INCREASED SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN ALMOST EVERY FIELD,

FOR EXAMPLE, MRS GOODSTADT SAID, THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL 1,400 DAY NURSERY PLACES, AS WELL AS SIX SMALL GROUP HOMES AND 80 FOSTER CARE PLACES FOR CHILDREN.

"WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE PROVISION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES. THERE WILL BE SEVEN MORE SUCH CENTRES NEXT YEAR.

TURNING TO ELDERLY SERVICES, SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 527 PLACES IN HOMES AND CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES.

IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE SEVEN SOCIAL CENTRES, THREE DAY CARE CENTRES, AND ONE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE.

MRS GOODSTADT STRESSED THAT REHABILITATION

SEE THE LARGEST EXPANSION.

PROGRAMMES WOULD

"AN ADDITIONAL 1,627 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED ADULTS. THIS INCLUDES 507 RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT BE TAKEN CARE OF AT HOME."

SHE SAID THE EXPANSION IN REHABILITATION

SERVICES ALONE COST

AN ADDITIONAL $21.9 MILLION.

SHE SAID: "OF COURSE, A VERY LARGE SHARE OF THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR SOCIAL WELFARE WILL BE SPENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY $4.023 BILLION.

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"THIS MONEY WILL HELP SOME 550,000 CLIENTS EVERY MONTH. THEY INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED BUT ALSO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE INCOMES.

WILL BE INCREASED,

"AND THE FUNDS DEVOTED TO SOCIAL SECURITY IN APRIL, AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, TO MAKE SURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ARE INCREASED IN LINE WITH INFLATION.

"I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASISE THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS AN OPEN-ENDED COMMITMENT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY - WE WILL PROVIDE THESE BENEFITS TO ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

COMMENTING ON THE 92/93 EXPENDITURE, MRS GOODSTADT SAID: "WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO TWO THINGS FOLLOWING THE INCREASE IN THE FUNDS FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

"FIRSTLY, WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR ALREADY VERY EXTENSIVE PROGRAMMES, SERVING A TOTAL OF 500,000 CLIENTS, EXCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY CASES.

/"SECONDLY, WE