Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 110 together.

Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12 and under 18. In certain circumstances, where the necessary criteria are met, enhanced and additional payments may be made. In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive several targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a recognised and valued part of the alternative care system. Key elements of this support include a link social worker, access to training and support group meetings and the allocation of a social worker for each child in care. Respite care for children may be arranged if it is part of their care plan.

The foster care allowance is one element of the support that Tusla provides to carers when they offer a home and care to children, some of whom may have additional, and sometimes significant, needs. I am aware that the basic rates of the foster care payment have not been increased since 2009, and I am acutely aware of the disappointment of foster carers that no increase was granted in the recent budget. I met the chief executive of Tusla in the aftermath of the budget and discussed the issue of supports to foster carers. I recognise that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost-of-living pressures and Tusla. I want to respond to this situation in a positive and meaningful way.

Following this engagement, it has been agreed that a single additional and once-off cost-of-living payment is to be paid in respect of each child in foster care. The payment is to be made at the current foster care allowance rate of €325 for a child aged under 12 and €352 for a child aged over 12 and under 18 years. It is the intention of Tusla and my Department that the payment should issue before the end of 2022 to all applicable cohorts of foster carers, including foster carers working with private providers. I hope that this once-off payment will go some way to alleviating the financial pressures foster carers are currently facing. I will continue to engage with Tusla in the coming months to improve the supports available to foster carers, and I will make every effort in future budgets to address the issue of an increase to the rates of the foster care allowance.

Separately, on Friday, 30 September 2022, the Tusla board considered a major improvement plan for foster care covering a wide range of issues. During the consultation that preceded this plan, foster carers highlighted their frustration at the fact they are obliged to wait six months after the placement of the foster child until they are eligible to receive child benefit payments. Foster carers also highlighted that as a cohort they are excluded from claiming the back-to-school and footwear allowances from the Department of Social Protection.

In addition, I am aware that foster carers highlighted their concerns in respect of access to the contributory State pension. I am committed to working with Tusla on the issues raised in that review and in the consultations, including with foster carers, that contributed to its development. I have also received a formal written request to meet with the Irish Foster Care Association. I will meet its representatives before the end of this month and I am also open to meeting representatives of other organisations representing foster carers.

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