Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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Good. I attended a briefing with Tusla yesterday on foster care. I heard from some of the fantastic foster care parents and their passion and commitment. The issue of the income supports being applied to foster parents was brought up. There is a concern around the means test. Children in foster care are hugely vulnerable. As a parent, I know how expensive children are. I do not believe even the money foster parents are given now - I am sure Senator Keogan can attest to this - fully covers the cost of supporting and educating foster children and ensuring they have the same access to things that their classmates do. I agree as I certainly have reservations about any type of means test when it comes to supporting children in foster care. I will be bringing it up with the Minister, who was in attendance at the briefing yesterday, which was good.

It is great that we now have a Department of children. The Minister is very committed and passionate about the area. How are the witnesses’ interactions with the Department?