XN000022-1994-12-13 — Page 11

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Fund advisory committee celebrates 100th meeting

The Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee (SLFAC), since its establishment in October 1984, has played a significant role in advising the Government on the allocation of public funds to social welfare projects.

The terms of reference of SLFAC are to advise the Director of Social Welfare on applications from welfare agencies for subventions from public funds, for allocations from the Lotteries Fund and for permission to hold flag days.

The SLFAC is chaired by the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Ian Strachan, with members appointed by the Secretary for Health and Welfare.

"Over the past 10 years, the SLFAC has endorsed 3,468 applications for capital grants from the Lotteries Fund and allocated a total of $1,674 million to various capital projects," Mr Strachan said.

One of the SLFAC's recent recommendations is a Lotteries Fund grant of over $333 million towards the redevelopment of the Aberdeen Rehabilitation Centre, which is the largest fund grant ever endorsed by the Committee.

"Construction of the new centre will commence early next year and Phase I of the project is expected to be completed by the end of 1996.

"On final completion, the centre will have a total area of about 30,000 square metres with 24 service units providing 1,410 places to cater for the needs of persons with various kinds of disabilities," Mr Strachan said.

In addition, the SLFAC allocates subventions for recurrent expenditure to non- governmental organisations on a yearly basis. A total of $10,632 million have been granted during the past 10 years.

For 1994/95 the revised estimate of recurrent subvention is $2,860 million. This is disbursed to over 2,000 subvented service units operated by 167 agencies which employ 15,000 subvented staff.

As compared with the subvention expenditure of $386 million in 1984/85, this represents an increase of 640 per cent, well illustrates a substantial expansion in social welfare and rehabilitation services during the past decade.