LOW-COST CHILDCARE

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Acting Minister for Community Development if he will consider having more low-cost child care places for low-income families.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: A better way to help low-income families is to give them financial assistance to enrol their children in child care centres located throughout the island than to provide places specifically for these families. Lower in cost must mean a lowering of the standards of care. Enabling these families to enrol in centres throughout the island also widens their choice of centres.

The Government has assisted the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the NTUC Child Care Co-operative (NTUC) to implement a financial assistance scheme which gives additional child care subsidies to low-income families. The additional subsidies help to bring child care centre care within the reach of low-income families.

The financial assistance scheme is funded by the 25th Anniversary Endowment Fund and was implemented by NTUC in May 1992 and by NCSS in September 1993. The subsidy given ranges from $50 to $100 per month per child, depending on family income. This amount is over and above the subsidy of $130 per month per child for full day care given by the Government to all eligible parents.