Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Ceisteanna - Questions

Cabinet Committees

4:10 pm

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

Last week, in the Minister, Deputy Donohoe’s budget speech, he said we would have an inflation rate of 8.5% this year and 7% next year, and he announced a series of increases in various payments, all inadequate and the vast majority below the rate of inflation. One group of people got absolutely no increase at all for the 13th year in a row, and that is foster carers. These are people who are providing vital care for children at about one twentieth of the cost of doing it in residential care and with generally much better outcomes. There are two rates of foster care allowance, one for children aged between zero and 12, which is €325 a week, and the other for those children over 12, which is €352 a week. That has not been increased since 2009. Since then, there has been at least a 20% increase in prices and they have not got any increase. This is not about paying foster carers; it is about ensuring they have the money to take care of the children in their care and provide the basics, such as food, heating and so on, but also extracurricular activities. Will the Government agree to increase the payment to carers?

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