Matters have been compounded by the lack of funding and I therefore welcome the increase in the pre-August 2001 allowance from €90.85 to €281 per week for a child under 12 years of age and from €108.88 to €388 for a child of 12 years and over. The failure to increase the allowances was a major barrier to recruiting good people to become foster parents. The cost to the State of their absence would be enormous.