Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle and Leas-Cheann Comhairle on their appointment. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue, which is dear to my heart.

In 2005 a young woman died tragically, leaving two young children, aged six months and 18 months at the time. To compound this tragedy, her husband suffered a severe stroke six weeks later, was incapacitated and could not look after his children. The children's aunt, who is from south Kerry, took in the children the day after the man had the stroke, which was in September 2005. Following many efforts to secure a foster care grant from the State to look after the two children, they have not received a cent from the State almost two years on.

The foster care allowance is paid in respect of children who are placed in foster care or relative care under the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995 or the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations 1995. The issue of relative care was dealt with in detail in the 2001 report of the working group entitled, Foster Care — A Child Centred Partnership, a title I will bear in mind. The report sets out a number of basic principles that should guide placements with relatives. These are as follows: that the best interests of the child are paramount; that the child should be placed only in an appropriate, safe, healthy and stable environment; that the standard of care must be equivalent to that provided in a traditional foster care arrangement; that the relative placements should only be made where a secure attachment exists or has the potential to develop between the child and the relative concerned; and that a partnership approach should be used to develop skills and support for relatives providing foster care.

I can vouch for these people under each of these headings. The problem, however, is that they have received no foster care or help from the State. The woman who has taken in these children should have received a medal as well as monetary assistance for providing all the care set out under the principles for placements with relatives. The best interests of the children are being cared for and the children are placed in "an appropriate, safe, healthy and stable environment". These people are precluded from receiving the foster care allowance because under the Child Care Act 1991 the children in respect of whom the allowances are paid must be in the care of the Health Service Executive on either a voluntary basis or by court order.

This lady took these children in the day after their father had a severe stroke, which was little more than six weeks after their mother died. Their father was incapacitated and could not look after them. I cannot understand why this woman has not been helped in giving these children love, attention and support. She has given them a ready made family. She has since had a child of her own and the children are in a secure environment but because they were not taken into the care of the HSE they are precluded from the foster care grant. I urge the Minister of State to do all in his power to help these two children who are in a safe, healthy environment.

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