Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. We need to review how foster parents are rewarded and recompensed for the work she has outlined, work which, we must acknowledge, saves the State an awful lot of money. When were the allowances paid last reviewed? From talking to foster parents who have been fostering for many years and do not remember a change in the rates, my sense is that they have not been reviewed for a very long time. The Minister has outlined foster carers' responsibilities and what the money is for: clothes, food, accommodation, classes and education. She has said it does not act as a payment in any way for foster parents. However, we need to recognise that the obligations placed on foster parents have increased, rightly so. Under Children First, they are now being asked to take on additional reporting obligations. There are extra responsibilities and they are taking on the role of a social worker.

Will the Minister comment on an anomaly that arises in regard to the rates of allowance for which foster carers are eligible? As she indicated, the rate is €325 per week for children aged under 12 and €352 for the over 12s. However, once a child reaches 18 years of age, the rate drops to €300. Given the high uptake of transition year, many students are not finishing second level by the time they turn 18. Moreover, it is probably much more expensive to care for an 18 year old than a 14 year old, but families are getting €52 less per week for an older child.

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