SINGAPORE - Sengkang and Punggol will each have 14 new childcare centres within the next two years. And by 2018, Sengkang will have an additional nine centres, while Punggol will have another 12 centres.

Acting Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is working with the Housing and Development Board to pre-build childcare facilities alongside upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) projects.

Responding to MP for Punggol East Lee Li Lian, Mr Chan said there will be a childcare centre within Rivervale Arc by early 2015, as part of this effort.

The ECDA is also open to alternative locations, such as workplaces, disused facilities and integrated developments.

Ms Tin Pei Ling, MP for Marine Parade GRC, asked: “How is demand determined? I’m asking because even for mature estates, there are BTO projects coming up and anticipated would-be young families moving in as well. So there would be an increase in demand for childcare, student care and even infant care.”

Mr Chan replied: “How we determine demand is based on the cohort size in the respective estates. We also take in feedback from the respective grassroots leaders if they see demand for such things. We also look at the queue at the existing childcare places in the vicinity so we have a sense of where is the demand.

“For example, we also understand that in Sengkang and Punggol generally, the young families there have less grandparent support, so they will need a bit more childcare places, and we have catered for it accordingly.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA