Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce measures to compensate foster carers in respect of deliberate damage caused to their property by a foster child, when such damage is not covered by home insurance due to the deliberate nature of the damage; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive has for many years informed carers that they could make such claims from their house insurer if they had informed their insurer they were foster carers when in fact no such cover was available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46901/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has advised me that all foster carers are covered by an indemnity insurance scheme. The policy provides indemnity to the individual foster carers while engaged in the fostering of children under schemes operated by the HSE. The indemnity provided is restricted to legal liability for accidental third party bodily injury or third party property damage arising from their activities as foster carers. The HSE has in place a procedure whereby foster carers are informed of this insurance cover when they apply and that it does not cover their private property. Damage to property by a foster child will be considered by the HSE on a case-by-case basis and may include some financial compensation.

In August 2012 there were 6,000 children in the care of the State, some 5,739 of whom were in foster care. A total of 1,803 of these children were placed with relatives.

While individual problems may occur from time to time it is not the case that children in foster care lead chaotic lives or that a significant cohort are prone to engaging is risk-taking or violent behaviour. In reality, the vast majority of children in foster care are in stable placements and in this country we are fortunate that so many children in care are being looked after by foster parents. The Deputy will be aware that the national standards for foster care serve as a basis for consistently promoting quality of care in the foster care services. The Health Information and Quality Authority inspects foster care services on an ongoing basis and publishes reports on the standards. The standards provide that an assessment of the needs of each child or young person is made prior to any placement. Supports are available to foster parents from the local child and family service if there are any difficulties. Prospective foster carers or applicants undergo an assessment and training process to establish their suitability and competence as future foster carers to prepare them for the role and what to expect.

A significant range of supports is available to encourage the provision of foster care. Individual cases can be considered by the HSE and it is open to those who are dissatisfied to use the HSE's statutory complaints procedure to have an independent review of any issue.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her reply and compliment her on her work to date in the portfolio. I fully agree with what she said about the standard and professionalism of all the family carers, especially those who are high support carers for very special cases. I am not suggesting in my question that there are many incidents, but there always are a few. I am talking about a case of which I know where, because of an incident, there was considerable deliberate and malicious damage done which the foster parents could not afford.

The real issue, which varies from area to area in the HSE, is that the HSE has been informing foster carers that if they tell their insurance company when they are insuring their home that they have foster children, they will get cover. That is untrue. For the foster carer in the case I am talking about, where there were two major episodes which resulted in significant damage being done and considerable trauma caused for the foster child as well as for the family and the other foster children, if that carer were to make a claim, they would have to commit fraud. They would have to make a claim fraudulently to the HSE by falsely filling out the form stating the damage was done accidentally. It it was done deliberately, they would not get cover. We all know the nuances of insurance, whether motor insurance or whatever. The insurance companies will get out of it for whatever reason.

Obviously, times have moved on. I am talking about a case that has been ongoing for years. While the Minister stated there is a dedicated agency and a dedicated Department, I look forward to it. All has not been 100%, or anything like it, in HSE area district in dealing with these issues.

Foster carers give splendid treatment to children, for the good of the children and for no financial gain. They want to do so. It is their passion and they do it professionally. Where there are incidents, however, there should be redress.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I suggest that Deputy Mattie McGrath write to me specifically on that case rather than try to deal with it in the House by way of parliamentary question. I would be willing to take up the case and examine it. The series of events he describes sound very unfortunate. If such a situation arises for householders, they would most likely have to cover the damage themselves and it is not any different with foster families. There is third party indemnity, which I explained to the Deputy. Each case can be looked at individually, and if there are ongoing issues in that case, I would be willing to have them examined and revert to the Deputy.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I will write to the Minister.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath. That was neat and tidy. I like that.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thank the Acting Chairman. He is a neat and tidy Acting Chairman.