CHILDCARE AND BEFORE-AND-AFTER-SCHOOL-CARE SUBSIDIES (Increase)

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Community Development, for the next difficult 12 months, if his Ministry will (i) increase childcare and Before-and-After-School-Care subsidies for families who are faced with reduced income; and (ii) provide temporary financial support to vulnerable groups such as single parents who cannot work full-time, yet cannot earn sufficient money to upkeep their families and to families with main breadwinner imprisoned.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Mr Speaker, Sir, currently a subsidy of $150 per month is given to working mothers who have children in child-care centres. Normally they would lose their eligibility for these subsidies when they are no more working. But the Member may be pleased to know that our current practice now is to extend the child-care subsidy for a three-month grace period if the mother is looking for a job. In view of the difficulties in the job market now, my Ministry will review the 3-month extension period with a view to lengthening it.

There are also other schemes to help families with young children needing child-care. For example, there is the Centre-based Financial Assistance for Child Care (CFAC) Scheme for low-income families administered by the National Council of Social Service. This scheme provides financial assistance of up to $200 per month depending on family income. This is in addition to the child-care subsidy provided by Government. Even if the mother is currently not employed, she is still eligible for the CFAC assistance as long as she is seeking employment.

As for Before-and-after-school care centres, or BASCs, they are operated by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) which generally keep their fees at an affordable rate.

Low-income families, ie, those with gross monthly household income of less than $2,500, are eligible for the Ministry's BASC fee subsidy of up to $150 a month on a sliding scale. A family, which is eligible for the maximum subsidy of $150, needs, in fact, to pay only about $52 in BASC fees, or about $42 if their child attends a school-based BASC.

On the question of temporary financial support, as you know, MCD has a Public Assistance Scheme which can provide financial assistance to the family which has no means of support and no one they can turn to for help. A family, whose sole-breadwinner is temporarily incapacitated or has lost a job, can apply for interim financial assistance to tide the family over this very difficult period.

Families, whose sole-breadwinners are unable to work full-time to earn enough for the family, can also be referred to other Government agencies or Voluntary Welfare Organisations for supplementary assistance such as waiver of school fees/medical charges, food rations or additional monetary assistance.

I would like to assure the Member that there are a range of schemes to help needy families through this very difficult period and at all times. Adjustments to the schemes will be made, if necessary, in accordance with the prevailing economic circumstances.

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh: May I clarify with the Minister: are you saying that single-parent households will also benefit from all these schemes, not just low-income families or vulnerable families?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Single-parent households, if they are low-income and if they need the assistance of the Ministry in any form, not only in terms of finance but also in terms of schooling for their children and others, would be given help.