The newly developed Mirrors programme and the free day care initiative will receive a combined total of $2.5 million over the next year.

The Budget statement provided the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation with a budget of $60.2 million.

Ms Cox said: "The focus on our youth is reflected in the programmes and initiatives of several Ministries and Departments. Government is determined that every young person should have the opportunity to develop into positive contributing members of their community."

The successful Mirrors programme for at-risk youth that launched in 2007 will receive an additional $1 million over the next year for two residential sessions.

The free day care initiative mentioned in the Throne Speech and the PLP election manifesto will receive $1.5 million for the next year.

Ms Cox explained the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation will "finalise and implement" the details of the programme and it will be available to families with children under the age of four.

However, there was no mention of how families will be selected or what the criteria for applicants is. It was mentioned that families already receiving Government assistance with day care services will be ineligible for the programme.

Family advocate Sheelagh Cooper addressed her concerns and said: "I read the Budget carefully and I do not see any timelines associated with that. It's still obviously a long way off and I also know from talking to some Government officials that they haven't even begun to identify who would actually qualify and that's critical to come up with a plan."

She continued: "You can't assess the cost until you figure that out. The key issue here is to make sure it's tied to quality day care and not just paying for babysitting services."

Senator Thaao Dill said the first draft of the proposal for the day care initiative has been presented to the Cabinet but said now would be an inappropriate time to comment on it.

"It has been put together collaboratively by folk within the relevant ministries in the Government departments, the private sector and charitable organisations, people such as the Coalition for the Protection of Children to ChildWatch. Dr. Grant Gibbons even expressed interest. Minister Butler invited him in. This is about making it work in the right way for the right reasons."

Other programmes mentioned in the youth and family portion of the Budget include the provision of funding for the Cross-Ministry Initiative Team to assist up to 40 families in need of their services. And staff at Camp Spirit and the Women's Treatment Centre will be made permanent within the civil service.