Question
Ms Sun Xueling
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development
(a) in 2015, how many applications have been received for additional childcare subsidies from non-working mothers and how many applications have been approved; and
(b) whether the Ministry will consider liberalising the qualifying criteria for additional childcare subsidies for non-working mothers, for instance those who have to care for multiple children and the elderly at home.
Written Answer
All parents of Singaporean children, regardless of their working status, are eligible for basic childcare subsidies. Other forms of support, such as the Baby Bonus Cash Gift and Child Development Account matched savings, are also available to help parents defray the cost of raising children. As working mothers have a greater need for childcare, we provide them added assistance in the form of additional childcare subsidies.
We recognise that some mothers who are not working full-time may also need childcare services for various reasons. These reasons may include long-term illness, disability, retrenchment, training or skills upgrading or other extenuating circumstances such as needing to care for other dependants in the family. For such cases, we exercise flexibility and consider their circumstances on a case-by-case basis for additional childcare subsidies.
On this basis, 660 non-working mothers were provided additional childcare subsidies in 2015. This was out of 760 applicants.
