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

I thank the Deputy. I should have opened by acknowledging the work that foster carers do in Ireland. There is an exceptionally high rate of foster caring for children who need care in Ireland and we must ensure that maintains. In fact, we need to grow it, which we can do by further supporting foster carers.

It is important to say that the foster care allowance is payable by Tusla to foster carers on behalf of, and to offset expenses relating to, the child in foster care. The foster care allowance is not assessed as means for any social assistance payment. I acknowledge that the foster care allowance is currently €325 per week per child under the age of 12 and €352 per week per child aged 12 or over. That increased by €25 in the budget last year. From November this year, the foster care allowance for children under 12 will increase to €400 per week and for those over 12 to €425 per week. There was also an additional one-off double payment in December.

See this speech in context