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

I thank the Deputy. That issue of travel expenses has been highlighted with me. There is a paper going between ourselves and Tusla for a proposal to provide some relief there.

He is correct about the pensions issue. I have discussed this directly with Minister for Social Protection and we will come back to it, especially in respect of the significant reforms she is bringing through with the State pension. I am certainly articulating the need for a position for foster carers within that wider context of the care pension that has been highlighted in the recommendations from the Pensions Commission.

On the wider supports, one of the issues Tusla has brought through is providing therapeutic support for the children in foster care, recognising that because of their circumstances these children may often be more in need of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and psychotherapy supports. That discrete group of therapist supports is now being put in place by Tusla.

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