Alternative Accessibility Solutions for Wheelchair-bound Residents in HDB Blocks where Lift Upgrading Programme Remains Unfeasible

2 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for National Development in view of the challenges faced by wheelchair-bound residents in HDB blocks where the Lift Upgrading Programme remains unfeasible and who are unwilling or unable to relocate using the Lift Access Housing Grant (a) whether the Ministry will further explore and provide details of alternative accessibility solutions; and (b) how is the Ministry engaging with the affected residents to understand their specific needs beyond relocation.

The Minister of State for National Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, the Lift Upgrading Programme, or LUP in short, was introduced in 2001. Since then, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has successfully implemented LUP in more than 5,000 blocks which were originally built without direct lift access.

Today, around 99% of all HDB blocks were either built with direct lift access or benefited from the LUP. We recognise that there remains about 1% of blocks which have been unable to benefit from LUP due to high costs or technical constraints. For households in such blocks, they may tap on HDB’s Lift access Housing Grant, or LHG in short, of up to $30,000 to help them buy a replacement flat with direct lift access.

I encourage households with pressing accessibility needs to approach HDB for assistance so that HDB can better understand their needs and explore suitable options with them.

Mr Speaker: Mr Yip.

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have several such blocks in Yio Chu Kang which do not have direct lift access, like Blocks 642 and 648. Residents who have lived in this estate for decades now have mobility issues. Asking them to take up the LHG and move out of their home and the community that they are familiar with, is not really an option for them.

Can the Ministry share more about the cost-benefit analysis of accessibility of options, such as creating lift options and compared against relocation grants? The Ministry has also previously shared that they are looking into alternative solutions using technology. Is there a timeline for this?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I would like to assure the Member that we will continue to explore additional viable options to assist the residents affected on this matter. I shared in my answer that the Member can refer the households with such pressing accessibility needs to the HDB so that we can better understand their needs and explore suitable options with them.

Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): I have a related question about the parameters that go into the thinking behind the overall LUP. This deviates a little bit from the accessibility issue, but in Sengkang, the district I represent, we have a large number of Sigma and LG lifts. When we appealed for consideration for the LUP, it was suggested to us that it would only be 30 years, which is the standard timeline for the LUP. Is there any scope for the variation in terms of how soon the LUP may be rolled out? Is there scope for reconsideration of this timeline?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. As the Member has made the request, I am sure HDB is looking at it. But as it is in another area or scope of lift matters, the Member may like to file another Parliamentary Question.

Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for the answers. The Minister of State mentioned about making an appeal to affected residents to approach them to discuss options. Could the Minister of State elaborate on what are these options and what are the likely cost of these other options?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, every block is unique and every unit is unique, so it is important for us to better understand the different specifications and the unique needs of each household. So, I would like to urge the Member to ask any resident who face such an issue to approach the HDB.

Mr Speaker: Mr Singh.

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Just a question for the Minister of State on lift accessibility. Has HDB done any detailed study on the prospect of stair-lifts for certain affected units where seniors have serious mobility issues?

For example, it could be half landings where the resident has to access at least a good six to eight steps before reaching the lift lobby. Is that something which the Ministry is looking at, particularly since the construction of new lift shafts for some of these affected units is not really viable financially?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Yes, we have looked at issues relating to stair-lifts. There are considerations like safety, technical constraints, in regard to these. Like what I shared with Mr Yip earlier, we will continue to explore some of these alternatives and options. At the end of the day, we want to see how those are viable and possible for us to do.

Mr Speaker: Mr Singh.

Mr Pritam Singh: Have stair-lifts been installed anywhere in Singapore in HDB flats with the half-landing problem?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: From my recollection, no stair-lifts have been installed yet, at this moment, unless there are certain specifications as part of the LUP. So, I think what is key is that while we install infrastructure or devices, we have to look at some aspects in terms of fire safety and other aspects like the technical constraints that may be there.