The Budget and us

BUDGET

More than $3 billion for pre-school sector over next five years.

Government to fund 40 per cent of wage rises for Singaporeans earning up to $4,000.

Higher fees for luxury cars, after changes to Additional Registration Fee structure.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

Civil servants can claim a larger portion of their medical and dental bills from next month.

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

Police cameras in another 650 Housing Board blocks by year end.

70 more Traffic Police officers on roads by year end, increasing patrol presence by 50 per cent. Network of 300 digital red light and digital speed cameras by end-2014.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Continue to be nimble amid uncertain geopolitical situation and global economic uncertainties: Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam.

MINISTRY OF LAW

Laws being re-examined to better resolve community disputes.

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

Faster speeds and enhanced capacity for Wireless@SG.

$182 million over next four years to support locally produced documentaries and current affairs programmes, in addition to the $630 million already promised.

Arts groups can soon classify performances they stage on their own.

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

First-time buyers who are single, above 35 and earning less than $5,000 can buy new two-room flats.

Supply of rental flats raised to 60,000, up from the promised 57,000 by 2015.

Plans for cap on the number of foreign tenants in each HDB block. Does not apply to Malaysians.

Parenthood Priority Scheme extended to pregnant mothers from May's Build-To-Order launch.

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

SME Talent Programme to match 3,000 students with small and medium-sized enterprises over five years.

$5 million fund to support lifestyle concepts with strong tourism potential.

$20 million scheme to match young talents with companies expanding overseas and help key executives acquire international human resource expertise.

$51 million programme for companies to access better technology from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Developing a programme to turn procurement into full-time job.

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Committee to Strengthen National Service set up to show more appreciation to NSmen and get buy-in from citizens and PRs.

Civilian doctors to serve at selected SAF medical centres.

New directorate to review the military's training safety system.

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES

Proposed law to license cleaning companies from next year. Requirements include progressive wage model.

Subsidised rents for long-term hawkers will continue after leases run out between next year and 2017.

Anti-littering enforcement stepped up.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Six new public general hospitals, and up to 14 polyclinics, by 2030.

Government to increase health-care financing contributions from one-third to about 40 per cent or more.

From next month, $3 administrative fee for Medisave use will be scrapped.

Better-defined licensing standards for nursing homes by 2015.

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

Government studying seriously providing free or cheaper travel for morning off-peak journeys. $50 million to extend bus priority incentives including bus lanes.

Bulk of Bus Services Enhancement Plan to be rolled out by next year.

90km of cycling paths to be built, bringing total length of paths to 210km by 2020. New committee to focus on improving road safety.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

15 government-run kindergartens will be set up over the next three years in HDB estates. First five to open next year.

Programmes to help weaker students from Primary 1 to Secondary 4 in English and Maths. Expansion of reading programme for pupils with dyslexia.

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

20,000 more childcare places over next four years. Space for at least one in two children in 2017, up from one in three now.

From May, single and unwed parents get same number of days of infant-care and childcare leave as married counterparts.

$40 million set aside over next three years to promote family education.

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

Employment Pass framework for hiring of foreigners will be tightened later this year. $170 million over next three years to attract and retain more local workers, and improve work-life harmony.

From July, firms must pay full-time locals at least $1,000, up from the current $850, to hire a foreign worker under a quota system.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH

Some $250 million to promote elite and recreational sports over the next five years. Free entry to all national museums and heritage institutions for Singaporeans and permanent residents from May 18.