Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I really accept the Minister's bona fides with regard to this, but I am really frustrated that we are here 14 years later and have not progressed.

I have a reply from 18 November 2009 in which the Minister's predecessor, former Minister of State Barry Andrews, assured the House that a protocol was being put in place with the Garda and the HSE at that stage, 14 years ago. It is clear that when foster carers are responsible for the care of some of our most vulnerable children, they are less likely to be exploited. I have given an example of that from 14 years ago. There is clear evidence that providing those children at the time with a foster home rather than a hostel facility was a far better support for them.

In recent years, we have seen a fall-off in the number of foster parents because the foster allowance has not increased since 2009. Can the Minister give the House an assurance that he will encourage and support children to be put into foster care and acknowledge the role that foster parents have in respect of this matter by increasing the foster care allowance for the first time in 14 years?

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