Haim Katz
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Welfare minister wants NIS 3 billion budget addition
Haim Katz says current budget of NIS 5.5 billion is not enough to deal with the most urgent social issues plaguing Israeli society.
The new Welfare Minister, Haim Katz, on Sunday demanded an addition of NIS 3 billion to his ministry's budget, which currently stands at NIS 5.5 billion.
According to data obtained by Yedioth Ahronoth, in 2014, NIS 2.186 billion were allocated to helping people with disabilities, NIS 1.361 billion went to saving children at risk, NIS 492 were used to rehabilitate criminals and addicts, NIS 205 million to aid the elderly and some NIS 1 billion for manpower in local authorities.
Welfare Minister Haim Katz (Photo: George Ginsburg)
Katz wants some NIS 400 million for a comprehensive plan to help members of the Ethiopian community in Israel.
The welfare minister also plans to add more social workers (who are overworked and receive low wages), and needs more money to promote new plans for children at risk, people with disabilities and the elderly.
"In order to effectively deal with the most urgent social problems in Israeli society, we must develop operational plans that could provide a quick response. With the budget I currently have, we will not solve the core difficult problems," Katz said.
