More Subsidised Day-Care Facilities for Adults with Special Needs

Mr Vikram Nair asked the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports in view of the necessity for some caregivers of adults with special needs to work, whether his Ministry will consider expanding the availability of homes or day-care facilities for adults with special needs, and providing them at subsidised rates for lower income families.

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Mr Chan Chun Sing: Mr Nair has asked about our plans to help caregivers through the expansions of facilities for adults with special needs and offering them at subsidised rates for the lower income.

MCYS shares Mr Nair's concerns, and we are committed to do more for adults with disabilities and their caregivers. Under the Enabling Masterplan 2012–2016, we will be adding 250 places in community-based Day Activity Centres for adults with disabilities and another 180 places for Adult Disability Homes. We will also expand Ensuite Social Home-based Care for adults with disabilities in the coming years.

MCYS had also announced at COS 2012 that we will enhance the means-test framework. I am pleased to report that the enhancements have come into effect on 1 July 2012. Those with a per capita household income of $600 and below staying in a residential facility will now receive a monthly subsidy of $1,400, about $200 to $300 more per month. If they are in a day activity centre, they will receive $765, or $150 to $350 more per month than previously.

I would like to assure Mr Nair that we will continue to review our policies from time to time to ensure that they remain relevant and adequate.