HOUSING ESTATES (Setting up of creches)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Social Affairs if consideration is being given to setting up creches in the various large housing estates, and if one will be set up in or near the Kallang Housing Estate.

Mr Chan Chee Seng (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Social Welfare Department operates 11 creches at the moment. The Jurong Town Creches, which was officially opened on 19th June, 1971, is the first creches to be set up in a new township or housing estate.

The Government has plans to set up creches in the other new towns, such as Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Telok Blangah and Woodlands, where the projected population justifies the setting up of a creches.

There is, however, no plan at the moment to set up a creches in the Kallang Housing Estate as there is already a creches, the Lee Kuo Chuan Creches, at Guillemard Road nearby. Although the Lee Kuo Chuan Creches has accommodation for 80 children, its average attendance is only 55 and more children from the Kallang Housing Estate can be accepted for admission to this creches. As it is, already 22 children out of the 55 attending the creches are living in the Kallang Housing Estate. However, if there is a dire need to have a creches within the Kallang Housing Estate in the future when circumstances warrant it, consideration can always be given.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Lee Kuo Chuan Creches is not in the Kallang Basin Housing Estate but in Kallang Park, which is miles away from my constituency. Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the circumstances in the Kallang Basin Housing Estate warrant the setting up of a creches, and, if so, whether he will consider providing one in the very near future?

Mr Chan Chee Seng: I think so, Sir.