Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister intends to engage with the State bodies and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the issue. I have raised the issue many times because it is appalling and despicable that some local authorities consider fostering allowance to be reckonable income when calculating rent. It is done by only a few local authorities but it is just outrageous. The money is meant to be for the needs of the children being fostered. It is appalling and despicable. A lady who fosters twin girls lives in a local authority house. Her rent was €120 per month but because she fosters these two little girls her rent is now €480 per month. It is appalling this money is not being used for its intended purpose. I am glad the Minister will discuss it with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government because this issue seems to fall between the cracks. It seems to be everybody's problem but nobody's problem. The little girls will suffer because the money is being taken as rent.

With regard to family requests for children to be taken into care where they are out of control and perhaps violent or abusive in the family home, I know of a case where a child was taken into care at the request of the family but the child was subsequently brought back to the family home and family is still not able for her because she is abusive and out of control. A social worker re-introduced her to the family home stating she believes this is in the best interests of the child. The other family members do not agree with this because there are other children in the home who suffer as a result of the abuse. The latest update I have is the social worker who stated she is better off in the family home is going on maternity leave in November and is closing the case. I would like to discuss this case with the Minister because it seems to be a terrible situation for the family. Other children in the home are at risk because people do not want to deal with the issue.