Page 1902 - Week 09 - Thursday, 19 October 1989
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Multiple Sclerosis
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I have the answer to a question asked by Ms Maher on 17 October when she asked what steps the Government was taking to provide the Multiple Sclerosis Society with financial assistance so that its respite care house could be utilised. The second part of the question was: "Can the Minister give an indication as to whether or not funding will be made to the society in the near future?".
As I indicated then, the Multiple Sclerosis Society is an important society for the assistance of those people in the ACT who suffer from that disease. The Multiple Sclerosis Society is currently receiving funding under the community services and health grants program administered by my department. In 1988-89 it received $21,060 to assist in the operational costs of its respite care house.
Under the new funding arrangements the Multiple Sclerosis Society has been identified for annual funding. However, it will have the opportunity to negotiate for inclusion as a recurrent service during the current grants process. Applications for new and expanded funding are now being called by the department, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society is encouraged to apply. I hope to announce the outcome of grant applications by the end of December this year.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society has also lodged an application for funding under the Commonwealth-Territory home and community care program. The home and community care program provides funding to maintain frail aged and younger people with disabilities in the community who are at risk of premature admission to inappropriate long-term residential care and to assist their carers. Over 50 applications have been received for funding under this program as part of the current funding round and are under consideration by my department. I and the Commonwealth Minister for Housing and Aged Care, the Honourable Peter Staples, expect to make announcements on successful projects within the next two months.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society's application is for respite care for members of the society and people with other disabilities. The form of respite care described by Ms Maher - that is, a respite care facility - is not eligible for funding under the home and community care program. This program is designed to keep people in the community, not to provide accommodation in an institutional setting. I would add that, under the home and community care program guidelines, services which are available only to a specific disability group, such as the multiple sclerosis group, are also not eligible for funding.
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