XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 56

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

40

WE

THE

7,700

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY, ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KEY TARGETS OF GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION BY 1997.

ABOUT THESE RELATE TO EXTRA DAY SERVICE AND

WITH RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR PEOPLE

VARIOUS END OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, DISABILITIES. BY THE

WE WILL HAVE

PROVIDED

WE REQUIRED. JUST OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE ADDITIONAL PLACES STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, FOR EXAMPLE, IDENTIFYING PREMISES, TO ENSURE THAT WE ACHIEVE OUR TARGETS ON SCHEDULE.

SUITABLE

THIS

LET ME ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION BE PUBLISHED SOON. I INTEND TO DO SO BY THE END OF 1994.

WILL

THE SET OUT GOVERNMENT'S POLICY DECISIONS ON OF REHABILITATION SERVICES OVER THE NEXT

WILL DOCUMENT DEVELOPMENT BEYOND.

FURTHER DECADE AND

COMMITMENTS

WELFARE FACILITIES HAS, IN FACT,

IN FINDING SUFFICIENT PREMISES.

SOME MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT'S THE PROVISION UNDERTAKINGS IN THE WELFARE FIELD ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE. OF SOME

BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF

IS THE MAIN PROBLEM DIFFICULTIES

A AREAS LACK OF SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE OLDER URBAN WHERE THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES. SOME PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITIES WILL PROBABLY SLIP BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION DELAYS CAUSED BY DESIGN

SOME

HAVE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULT SITE CONDITIONS. ALSO BEEN HELD UP BY THE RESISTANCE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS.

PROJECTS

WE ARE TAKING VIGOROUS STEPS TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE GOVERNMENT

THE REGIONAL PROPERTY AGENCY, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND WE COUNCIL.

ARE LOOKING FOR NEW PREMISES BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OR PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND FURTHERMORE WE ARE CONSIDERING RENTING BUYING PRIVATE PREMISES.

ENSURE TO OVERCOME LOCAL OPPOSITION AND TO RESIDENTS' RIGHT LOCAL

TO INFORMATION, WE ARE INFORMING THEM OF REHABILITATION PROJECTS IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, WITH VIEW TO ENCOURAGING A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO A DISABILITIES.

WITH

PEOPLE

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE MOST OF THE KEY TARGETS IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION AND THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE ON SCHEDULE.

IN OF THE 111 PREMISES REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE KEY TARGETS 1994/95, WE HAVE ALREADY SECURED 99. IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO MEET ALL THE TARGETS ON SCHEDULE IF WE CAN RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF PREMISES. ARE DETERMINED THAT WE SHOULD DO SO.

WE

TURNING NOW TO HEALTH.

PREVENTION OF DISEASE

SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN EMPHASIS ON THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE.

ON THE NEED ΤΟ PROVIDE MORE

I CAN ASSURE THEM THAT PREVENTION OF DISEASE IS A PRIORITY ITEM ON THE HEALTH AGENDA. THE GOVERNMENT'S KOLE

То IS INCREASINGLY

AND ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES TO AVOID DISEASE DISABILITY AND TO DEVELOP LIFESTYLES THAT SUPPORT POSITIVE HEALTH. THIS IS A CENTRAL THEME IN MY POLICY COMMITMENTS.

THERE ARE