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

I, my Department and Tusla recognise the essential importance of the work foster carers do. Deputy Gould is right in saying that we would prefer it if children were not in care, but the truly amazing statistic that 89% of children in care are in foster care rather than in residential situations is extremely important. It is also important that we continue to properly acknowledge this work done by foster carers. The fact that we have not increased the basic allowance for 13 years is not a proper acknowledgement, and this is why it is something I am working to achieve.

I do not wish to look at this issue in isolation, however. I refer to the importance of the documents brought forward by Tusla. We know the numbers of foster carers have been static and are declining. At the same time, the number of children in need of care is increasing. Therefore, if we are to continue to maintain and even to grow the number of foster carers we have, then we need to take co-ordinated action. Increasing the rate of the foster care allowance on its own is not enough. Everybody accepts that point. This is why it is important that Tusla has brought to me this suite of measures, some of which are in the direct control of my Department, and some of which I will need to engage on with other Ministers, including the Ministers for Social Protection and Education, Deputies Humphreys and Foley, in order that we can bring forward this more comprehensive response.

In the interim, and recognising the real cost-of-living pressures everyone is facing now, including foster parents, we have brought forward this proposal for an additional week's payment of the basic rate as a recognition that cost-of-living pressures are being faced by foster carers now. It is also recognised, though, that this is the first part of a wider response to strengthening and, hopefully, growing the number of foster carers.

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