Ms Clare Corridon:

I might return to the training issue for a moment. My husband and I started our training process in June 2020, were approved at the end of August and had a placement by the end of September, but at no point during that process was any financial information given to us, such as about how we should go about applying for supports. I do not even know where we sit in regard to child benefit; I will have to look into that. There was no information about the supports and there certainly was not financial interest in becoming a foster parent. I was a little horrified to hear I will be financially out in regard to my pension and so on as a result of becoming a foster parent. No discussion or information was given about that. The focus is very much on whether we fit the bill and were good enough, with all the evidence required for that. No information was given as to how we should then go about applying for any benefits to which we were entitled, including any additional ones we might have been entitled to as a result of having a foster child with specific needs.

It might not be a job for the committee, but we should examine the barriers to fostering. I speak to people all day every day who would be fabulous foster parents but there is a great deal of fear and a lack of knowledge about what is involved. That would be very useful, not least given the numbers of foster parents are falling. We need to look at that and how we can encourage more people into it. The Chairman's colleague stated he is good enough to be a parent but that he would not pass as a foster parent. In that regard, we should look at the process and how we can draw in people who would be fabulous foster parents, who might have experience raising their own children or who are just genuinely good people who would love to give back to children who need it.

The main cost for us relates to the emotional side of things. That is where we need additional help and it is why there being an organisation we can contact, outside of the Tusla system, is so valuable for that emotional support. People talk about the money side of things, but they do not look at what we are expected to deal with in the system.