Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We need a commitment in relation to the entire suite of issues that are being dealt with, but that also includes foster care payments.

We are talking about a cost-of-living allowance. We all will be aware of the particular impositions on families that foster in the sense that they cannot necessarily avail of regular work situations. They are on the hook, for want of a better term, of maintaining that family connection for the child. They also have those access visits. They can involve considerable lengths of time and distances which is obviously an added costs in relation to fuel etc.

We want more people to engage in the necessary societal good that is provided by fostering but we need to look after those who foster. We need to foster them. We must do that, first and foremost, through payments and conditions and deal with all those particular issues that have been discussed.

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