Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was upstairs in my office for the first part of the meeting. I thank all the witnesses. Everyone is very passionate about this matter. It brought me back to the issue of the mother and baby homes. We worked with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, on that. The Minister is very committed to supporting and working with everyone. It is important that we mention that because he is very passionate about his remit. All of us on this committee have worked very well with him.

I am very lucky in the sense that I know a lot of foster families in my own area. The children are the light of their lives. I have worked with families and given references for some because I know how committed they are. I have huge concerns about this area. In 2001, the working group on foster care said there needs to be an increase in the allowance, as well as the aftercare allowance. Mr. Brown spoke about that. That is a huge concern for me. We are looking at the cost of living and everybody wants the best. It is important that no family, particularly a foster family, is in a position where they are struggling. I do not think that should happen. We should look at the provision of mileage, supports and allowances to foster carers, especially with regard to the back to school allowance. Would it be more beneficial to families to have extra supports there?

I have been taking notes. I feel that foster carers provide an invaluable contribution to the State because they want to bring positive change into the lives of children in need. I know so many foster families and this is what they are about. The supports have to be looked at. A family that was in contact with me recently pointed out that while foster carers receive payments for fostering children, they receive no PRSI credits from the State and so are not eligible to receive a pension. Some of these foster parents are doing this on a full-time basis and they are are not entitled to it. I have huge issues with that. They should be entitled to a pension. That is something we need to look at, whether through legislation or whatever else we can do because that is important.

I was very annoyed. A foster family I know came to me whose child had missed the school bus place because of the mix up. While it is great to see that we had the free bus for the year for primary and post primary children, there were no exceptions made. That is a considerable issue. It is the same for housing. I am working on housing for families in my area. There has to be a priority. There has to be some legislation under which a foster family should, under no circumstances, lose a home or be in a situation where they cannot be in a home. If we learn one thing from today, it should be that we put in supports. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, about this. I have spoken before about this to him. We need to prioritise these issues. On the scale of things, they should be easily done. It is just a matter of prioritising the most vulnerable and those who need it the most. I am absolutely committed to that.

I know supports are such an issue, whether it is occupational or speech-and-language therapy. That needs to be addressed. I was touched by all of the witnesses' presentations. What do they feel is the struggle that causes families not to foster any more? Is there an issue we could solve? We need foster families. We need them for children who are vulnerable. How do we try to solve this? If we do not look at anything else from today, maybe we could look at that.

I say well done Mr. Brown and all of the witnesses. I have not got my glasses on and I cannot see the names. I apologise. I came down without my glasses. I learned a considerable amount today. I am working away and I know we have much to do. However, it is important we say that the Minister is committed. The Government will listen. I can assure the witnesses that I will be shouting and doing what I can for them.