Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is currently considering the EPIC publication, looking in particular at children with a disability in the care system. It was a valuable contribution, as the contributions from EPIC usually are. We recognise the importance of making additional provision for children with a disability who are in the care system, particularly those in the fostering system. I spoke earlier to Deputy Sherlock about the fact that Tusla is now appointing regional therapeutic managers for each of the Tusla regions and seeking to recruit speech and language therapists and occupational therapists for pilot sites. That is aimed at providing more targeted support for children in foster care and their families in terms of access to some of these important services, while recognising that children in the care system may have a greater propensity to need the support of these carers. That is an important step forward. As the Deputy is aware, we have the suite of three plans for residential care and foster care and the one for alternative care that will be coming forward from Tusla. Those plans will work together. There is a thread running through them in terms of the additional needs of children with a disability in the care system.

I hear what the Deputy is saying regarding what she and, I am sure, many other Deputies and Senators have heard from foster carers regarding concerns, particularly in respect of the pension. The current system involves 20 years credits for caring as part of the contributory pension but we know many foster carers have been caring for longer than that. I specifically raised that with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to try to flesh out that line in the recommendations of the Commission on Pensions relating to greater pension protection for carers. Engagement is ongoing between officials in my Department and those in the Department of Social Protection to see if we can provide for greater supports. There is a need for tangible recognition of the significant work and sacrifice. People make a decision not to undertake a career in order to be a foster parent and the State needs to do more to recognise that more in the longer term and not just in the context of the weekly payment.