Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the welcome to our distinguished visitors.

Given the good news the Minister has brought forward in respect of those in full-time education up to the age of 18, I will again raise the issue of foster carers. I know the Minister announced in the budget an additional payment of €75 for foster carers, €25 of which came into place from 1 January. Given the good news in respect of those in full-time education and child benefit, I ask the Minister to look at the additional €50 payment which was to happen in November. If she could bring that forward too, it would be useful and beneficial to all those who are foster caring and doing such great work for us in this country. The Minister should look to bring forward that payment because we need as many foster carers as possible in the country, as the Minister knows as well as I.

I will raise one other issue that relates to those foster carers who are in receipt of a one-parent family allowance. When the child reaches the age at which that payment finishes, the foster parents are under pressure with work activation schemes because they have to get the jobseeker's payment. I ask the Minister to consider an exemption for those foster carers at that point. I have come across a number of cases in recent weeks and months in this regard. I ask the Minister to consider the situation. It looks as if the pressure we are putting on foster carers is causing a number of them to reconsider their position as foster carers and an exemption would allow them to continue as foster carers and to continue doing the good work they are doing.

The final issue on foster carers relates to pensions. Unfortunately, the Minister was not with us on the social protection Bill. When I raised the issue of pensions for foster carers with the Minister of State, he indicated that in certain circumstances and scenarios, some foster carers would qualify for the 20-year carer's rule. The eligibility of foster carers and their ability to apply for a pension has been brought up with me time and again by the Irish Foster Care Association. The Minister and I discussed the matter previously and she said she would look it and I asked her to look at it again. Given the great work foster carers do within our communities, we need to reconsider the situation. We need to go beyond the scenario suggested by the Minister of State. We need to consider a pension for foster carers in general in recognition of the great work they do.

I also bring up an issue that has been raised by a colleague. It relates to my friend, Ms Maggie Owens, a great advocate for Irish Sign Language, ISL. She contacted me about the voucher scheme. I know there was a meeting with the Minister today. The Minister brought in the scheme, which was great, but it has been put on hold, which has caused torment in the Irish deaf community. It does so much work for the whole social outlook of the Irish deaf community. I ask the Minister to look at this issue again and give us an update as to where it is and why it was put on hold. At the end of the day, those people in that community benefited greatly from the scheme and would do so again. I have seen them at events I have attended, as have other Members of the House, and when they have an interpreter, it enhances the benefit they get from their social outlets. Perhaps the Minister would comment on that issue.

In respect of the Bill before us, I look forward to working with the Minister as it progresses through the House.