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REGINA -- New funding for child care will improve services for high-needs children and help low-income parents participate in the workforce, says Social Services Minister Glenn Hagel.

Hagel announced $1.7 million in new child-care funding on Monday.

Hagel said $750,000 will be used to develop 150 new child-care spaces across the province, including 38 new spaces approved for Regina.

In addition, Hagel said $450,000 will be invested in improved child-care services for special needs children.

Licensed child-care centres will also benefit from a $500,000 increases to the Early Childhood Services Grant to improve wages for child-care workers.

Since 1997, the province's Building Independence program has helped 6,000 families including 13,000 children, Hagel said in a statement.