Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate and back up what has been said about the important role played by foster carers, and also the difficult job they have at times, often with challenging young people. I have some familiarity with the system. A lot of what is being spoken about will go to the main Department with primary responsibility for foster carers' support. It is important to reiterate that between child benefit, the homemakers scheme, home caring periods and the new development for incapacitated dependants, this Department is doing what it can to ensure foster carers are able to accumulate PRSI contributions now, in order that they are looked after in the future when it comes to pensions. It is also worth noting when it comes to the number of children in care in the country that Ireland is one of the lead countries in the world when it comes to the percentage of children in foster families. That is a good thing. We need to do everything we can to maintain that percentage, and grow it too.

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