Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I came this morning from Naas General Hospital where I and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, had the opportunity to celebrate ten years of Project Search. Indeed, that was the precursor to the Oireachtas Work Learning, OWL, programme that we have in Leinster House. Every year, ten young people from care with an intellectual disability are involved in an internship there. Honestly, to be met by joy and smiles and the warmest of welcomes when going into the hospital is good for everybody. As the new general manager of Naas hospital said, it brings so much to the patients and staff and, of course, the young people who are there are learning very transferable skills. Many of them have then gone on to be part of the OWL project. The proof of the pudding is that following this project, 72% of the young people who have participated to date have gotten permanent jobs. That in itself is something else, particularly when we had the damning report from the European Disability Forum earlier this year, which found that Ireland was in bottom place along with Greece with regard to employment for people with disabilities. In Greece, they have much higher unemployment than we have. This is the only project of its kind in Ireland. There are 714 in the world - it was started in Cincinnati - and 150 in the UK. It is important that we take these learnings on board and see what we can do with other organisations to really give that quality of life. Well done to Mr. Christy Lynch and Mr. Peter Fenton, who started this. Mr. Alan Kinsella was the general manager of Naas hospital at the time and Caroline and Aoife are the co-ordinators now.

I also wish to raise the following issue. A number of us had the opportunity to meet some foster parents last week and, really, they are the unsung heroes in terms of the work they take on behalf of the State in giving warm and loving homes to vulnerable young people who absolutely need it. Since 2009, there had been no increase in what a foster parent received. This year, a small increase was put in place but it is not to be paid until November 2024. That is simply not good enough. That needs to be addressed in the Finance Bill.

We also need to see supports with regard to PRSI and pensions. Many of those who are acting as foster parents are really giving their best and they are being penalised in their later age by not having that. They are also not entitled to apply for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. At a time when back-to-school costs are going up quite significantly, albeit wonderful to have the free schoolbooks scheme, it is important that there is an allowance in place for that. It is also important to say that many children arrive in an emergency situations without anything and without any extra financial supports. I would like to see a debate in the House before Christmas, possibly with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, or the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, regarding how we support fostering in this country