XN000022-1994-05-14+15 — Page 10

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SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1994

NEW FINANCING SYSTEM FOR DAY CRECHES

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CHANGE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF SUBVENTING DAY DAY NURSERIES FROM TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH THAT OF THE

CRECHES SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD LIFT THE EXISTING POLICY WHICH ONLY ALLOWED THE ADMISSION OF INFANTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH SOCIAL NEEDS TO SUBVENTED DAY CRECHES.

HE SAID IN FUTURE, DAY CRECHE SERVICE WOULD ALSO BE TO OTHER FAMILIES WHO MIGHT CHOOSE TO USE THE SERVICE AND YET ABLE PAY FOR THE FEE ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANS.

AVAILABLE

ΤΟ

"HOWEVER,

FROM WILL STILL BE GIVEN TO INFANTS PRIORITY

TI HE ADDED. INCOME FAMILIES IN NEED OF FULL-DAY CARE,

LOW-

DAY CRECHES PROVIDE CARE AND CATER FOR THE DEVELOPMENTAL OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWO.

NEEDS

THE

THE SPOKESMAN SAID A BRIEFING HAD ALREADY BEEN ARRANGED FOR THE AGENCIES OPERATING DAY CRECHES LAST FRIDAY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW NEW FINANCING SYSTEM WORKED.

"WE ALSO

TO ENLIST THEIR ASSISTANCE WISH PARENTS CONCERNED, HE SAID.

IN EXPLAINING

TO

IN

A

HE SAID INSTEAD OF SUBVENTING DAY CRECHES, GOVERNMENT WOULD FUTURE, DIRECTLY HELP PARENTS PAY THE DAY CRECHE FEES ACCORDING TO SLIDING SCALE, BASED ON THEIR NET INCOME, UP TO THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE FEE.

"OPERATORS OF DAY CRECHES WILL RECEIVE FROM GOVERNMENT A PER CENT SUBSIDY, CAPITAL GRANTS ON FITTING OUT COST, EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS REIMBURSEMENT OF RENT AND RATES,

НЕ

ADDED

FIVE

FURNITURE AND HE SAID.

WOULD TO BNSURE FOR

BE

ASSISTANCE THAT ALL APPLICATIONS FOR FEE PROCESSED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS THAT PROVISION WOULD BE OFFERED TO FAMILIES WHO HAD A SOCIAL NEED DAY CRECHE SERVICE.

THE

SPOKESMAN MARKED

ALSO

PAST

HAD NUCLEAR GROWTH

THE

DECADE POINTED OUT THAT

OF PREVALENCE WITNESSED

SOCIAL CHANGES SUCH AS THE FAMILIES, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WORKING MOTHERS AND THE OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES.

ABOUT CHILDREN LED то AN

IN ADDITION, THERE IS GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN BEING LEFT

THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE UNATTENDED AT HOME. INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR THE DAY CRECHE SERVICE.

4

"WE ARE EXPANDING THE SUPPLY OF CRECHE PLACES TO MEET THIS DEMAND, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

NEW

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