Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware that foster caring for children with additional complex needs does not qualify one for full pension support, even in cases where Tusla has advised these carers they need to be on call 24-7 to support the child's medical needs and therefore one carer per household should not rejoin the workforce (details supplied); if she has liaised with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on this matter, as that Department's Minister promised in Question No. 1347 of 17 January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25424/24]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I wish to ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that foster caring for children with additional complex needs does not qualify one for full pension support, even in cases where Tusla has advised these carers they need to be on call 24-7 to support the children's medical needs and therefore one carer per household should not rejoin the workforce. Has she liaised with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on this matter, as that Department's Minister promised in a parliamentary question response on 17 January?

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for the question. Matters related to foster care, including any criteria relating to work, are the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and of Tusla.

The State contributory pension is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers. The payment rate reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. However, it is recognised that people may have periods out of the workforce for reasons such as caring responsibilities, including foster caring. Accordingly, the State contributory pension provides measures such as PRSI credits, home-making disregards and home-caring periods to recognise these periods of care outside paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of PRSI credits and home-making disregards and home-caring periods where they meet the criteria, in the same way as biological or adoptive parents. There is no difference in treatment. Foster carers can register for caring periods for each child under the age of 12 if in receipt of child benefit. If a foster carer is not in receipt of child benefit, they can still qualify provided the caring periods are confirmed by Tusla. In the case of a child who is over the age of 12, periods can be registered where the child requires continuous supervision and regular assistance throughout the day with the activities of daily living, including nursing care. There is a maximum of 20 years' caring periods available.

In addition, long-term carer's contributions are available that attribute the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated people to cover gaps in their contribution record for State contributory pension purposes.

Foster carers who have cared for an incapacitated person for a cumulative period of over 20 years are eligible for these contributions.

Officials from my Department have actively engaged with the Department of children and Tulsa on this matter, met representative foster carers and hosted an information seminar for nearly 300 foster carers to explain the State pension system and their entitlements.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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Go raibh maith agat for the information. It is fantastic to hear that there will be a webinar. I decided to raise this matter with the Minister of State because it has been highlighted to me by my constituents that there is an anomaly whereby some foster carers, most of whom are women, find themselves unable to qualify for full contributory State pensions. It is apparently possible to exceed the amount of credits allowed and simultaneously fall short in PRSI payments when fostering for long periods of time. This unfair situation is affecting foster care morale and deterring new foster carers from joining when we need them the most. That is the situation despite the fact that foster carers save the State millions of euros.

A grassroots group of foster carers called Movement for Change in Foster Care has pointed to the past three years of lobbying and holding meetings with Tusla and the Departments of Social Protection and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Its representatives say that in order to move beyond the stalemate, all three State agencies need to find a workable mechanism that will fit in with the pension rules so that no foster carer falls short in his or her pension entitlement because of time spent fostering.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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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.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I acknowledge that the weekly payments have gone up. When the Irish Foster Care Association, IFCA, conducted a survey prior to the increase in the payments, 50% of the carers surveyed said they experienced financial difficulties due to their commitments to caring and have considered giving up fostering because they are worried about being able to provide an adequate level of care.

The Minister of State mentioned the home caring periods scheme, which can help to qualify carers for the State pension. However, it only applies to households where the children are under 12. If they are over 12, it applies where the children are disabled. High-needs fosters do not vanish at the age of 13. Tusla advises carers that they need to be on call 24-7. That is a prerequisite because the children are too traumatised to attend crèche full time and would have numerous medical appointments and birth-family access. A number of difficulties are at play.

I point to the fact that the home caring periods scheme is capped to a maximum of 20 years, which means talented long-term foster carers are unable to use it. That seems unnecessary and I raise that issue with the Minister of State.

I note that the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, promised to liaise with the Minister of State's Department. The Minister of State has said that is happening. He also mentioned the webinar. If he could speak to any other headway that is being made, it would be great.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I am coming at this question from the point of view of my role in the Department of Social Protection and my knowledge of the foster caring side of matters is being added in, to be honest. It might be appropriate to send the question to the other Department to get more detail.

The Deputy mentioned children over 12 and a disability requirement. I do not think the situation is that rigid. Different language is used in respect of the level of care required and the word "disability" is not specifically mentioned in the guidance for children over 12. That may practically end up the case for many children over 12 who qualify but the language is not that rigid.

It is important to say that Tusla can provide additional financial supports to foster carers through additional or enhanced payments. Most carers know that, I suspect. They should engage with their Tusla contact point if there is a particular financial difficulty.