James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that representatives from the Department are before us. My questions focus, in particular, on issues facing children who are in very difficult and challenging circumstances. Something I have worked on closely is foster care. I have found the level of support available to parents who take the decision to become foster parents very disturbing. Sometimes the coverage in respect of this matter has been quite negative. There have been failings but, overall, the families I deal with are deeply passionate about the level of care they provide and about making the decision to take in children from other families because of the circumstances they have had to deal with growing up.

A point has been made to me that I would like to put to the Secretary General. I understand the level of support payments made available to foster parents has not changed in some time. Can he comment on increasing the level of funding for parents who wish to partake in the foster care programme in Ireland? Is there any issue on this? It has not changed in decades. I find that a matter of some concern.