ENABLING MASTERPLAN 2007-2011

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ENABLING MASTERPLAN 2007-2011:

(Timeframes and key performance indicators): 9.

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether he will provide the timeframes and key performance indicators for the implementation of the Enabling Masterplan 2007-2011 and, specifically, the status and plans for services for people living with disabilities in early intervention programmes, employment, lifelong learning, healthcare and residential living.

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Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Standing Committee on Disability is an inter-Governmental committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of MCYS to coordinate and monitor the key performance indicators of the Enabling Masterplan from 2007 to 2011. Ms Denise Phua has asked for an update on the early intervention programmes, employment, learning, healthcare and residential living for people with disabilities.

First, we have reduced the average waiting times for the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC)from nine months to four months. We have increased the capacity from 1,000 to 1,400 places, and increased the number of centres from nine to 11 EIPIC centres. The Standing Committee is collaborating with MOH and NCSS to develop an assessment framework to enhance quality in therapy standards. MCYS and NCSS have jointly launched the EIPIC Support Grant worth $3.6 million to assist needy families. This grant will help to ensure that every child will have access to appropriate early intervention programmes even if his family is less well-off. To date, about $343,000 has been utilised. We will continue to ensure that EIPIC services are both affordable and accessible.

Second, I would like to touch on life-long learning and employment for the disabled. The Enabling Masterplan had envisioned the "Value Chain" Employment Framework where a person with disability can access job assessment, training and placement several times during his working life to ensure lifelong employability. My Ministry has started collaborating with the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the Singapore National Employers Federation, NCSS and various VWOs on initiatives such as the

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Open Door Fund (ODF), which allows companies to claim up to $100,000 per project for any job redesign and workplace modifications done to cater to the needs of persons with disabilities. To date, 115 persons have been employed under the ODF. Recognising that skills-training is an important component of employment and lifelong learning, we launched the Infocomm Technology Apprenticeship Training Programme in July 2008. This programme is supported by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the Society for the Physically Disabled. This successful public-private-people partnership aims to train some 400 persons with disabilities over the next three years. In total, $12.7 million will be committed to this project by IDA, MCYS, Tote Board, Microsoft Singapore and NEC.

Persons with disabilities seeking medical treatment today can access Government healthcare subsidies, Medisave and Medifund. Although MediShield does not cover congenital or pre-existing illnesses, persons with disabilities can apply for coverage for medical treatment of other medical conditions. To further help defray medical costs, several VWOs provide free health screening or medical consultation by medical professional volunteers. They have also initiated medical coverage such as personal accident insurance or medical insurance for hospitalisation for clients who work in sheltered and production workshops. NCSS also administers a Medical Fee Exemption Card for needy residents of disability homes to obtain free medical and hospitalisation treatment at Government or restructured hospitals and polyclinics.

On residential care, our current assessment has shown that there is no immediate need to build new homes as there are around 720 residents living in homes for disabled adults and children,

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while the combined capacity is 950. Having said that, MCYS and NCSS are assessing the capacity that will be required post-2011.

Other than the five areas raised by Ms Denise Phua, I also wish to highlight our continued effort in improving accessibility, and in promoting sports. The Building Construction Authority's $40 million Accessibility Fund which aims to upgrade existing buildings has already attracted applications from hotels to Government buildings. So, what I am trying to say is that by 2011 and 2014, the HDB blocks will have their lifts upgraded and also have all the roads accessible to disabled people.

Finally, I want to assure Members that we also pay attention to sports for the disabled. I am sure that we are very proud of Laurentia Tan, Theresa Goh and so on, for their wonderful performance at the Beijing Paralympics. So, everyone in our society, disabled or not, we should give them the opportunity to develop to their fullest.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answer to Question Nos. 13 and 16 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 10-12, 14-15 and 17-21 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament. ]