Government is working to establish more child day care facilities as it pushes ahead with plans for subsidised care for Bermudian children.

The Child Day Care Allowance Act, passed by Parliament last month, will help pay bills for families or parents earning under $70,000 per year.

According to the Government, it could help up to 400 families make ends meet.

Children must go to a licensed day care centre or registered home day care facility, but Nelson Bascome, Minister of Health, admitted yesterday that there are too few places available at present.

"The parents continue to raise concern. Finding adequate facilities, that is our challenge.

"Just this morning, I e-mailed Derrick Burgess, Minister of Works, because we know of a Government building in the Sandys area that we are looking at turning into a centre for child care," he revealed.

Minister of Culture and Rehabilitation Dale Butler, whose Ministry is leading the new initiative, added that the main house at the new Loughlands housing development, which will include a day care centre, is being assessed to see what work needs to be done.

The new financial assistance will be available for Bermudian children whose parents are Bermudian or married to a Bermudian.

Government will establish a maximum monthly fee for child care services — the amount is yet to be announced — and this will be paid directly to the care providers.

Regulations are being worked on, with a further announcement on the implementation of the initiative due at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Mr. Butler is engaging in talks and visits with day care providers this month.

On the first leg of the tour yesterday, joined by Mr. Bascome and former Minister of Health Patrice Minors, Mr. Butler said: "I expect I'll hear some things on the listening tour that I haven't yet considered, and where appropriate, I'll make sure those elements are measured as we draft the regulations."

One stop on the tour saw him meet with Michelle Caesar, who owns Aerie's Adventure day care centre in Devonshire with her sister Lynn Ball.

Fees are $800 per month for the parents of the 35 children who attend the centre, with additional fees for extras such as Spanish and music lessons.

"I think the Government plans will have a good impact, especially for those that are less fortunate, who are having a hard time paying," said Ms Caesar, who welcomed news that work is being done to establish more centres.

"It's very hard to find day care," she said. "I have a two-year waiting list once they register. Most people register their child at birth."