Cost of Placing Child in Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre and Place of Safety

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each of the past five years (a) what is the average and median cost of placing a child in (i) a juvenile rehabilitation centre and (ii) a place of safety; and (b) how much and what percentage of the average cost is (i) provided by the Government or by the Court or (ii) raised from private fundraising by the respective homes.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Over the past five financial years, the average monthly cost of placing a child or young person in a juvenile rehabilitation centre (JRC) or a place of safety was $5,400 and $3,000 respectively, and the median monthly cost was $5,100 and $3,200 respectively.

The Government provides 100% funding for JRCs. For places of safety, the Government fully funds Court-ordered cases and covers 75% of the cost for cases not ordered by the Courts.