Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1009. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the benefits associated with foster care can be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34312/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for social assistance and income supports, including the Guardian's Payment Scheme.

A child requires to be taken into the care of the State, where they cannot live with their parents either on a short or long-term basis. The HSE will, in the first instance, seek a suitable relative or person known to the child to provide relative care. Relative carers go through an assessment and approval, in a similar way to general foster carers.

In placing a child in foster care, the HSE regards the welfare the child as paramount, having regard to the rights and duties of his/her parents. Each child in foster care has a social worker who visits the child in the foster carers' home and, where appropriate, maintains contact with the child’s birth family.

Every foster carer is also supported in their care of the child. Foster carers are required to be reviewed by the Foster Care Committee at regular periods.