Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the payments or supports available for a foster parent who fosters young children and that as a consequence is not available to seek full-time work and thus will not qualify for jobseeker's allowance. [41445/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The primary payment for foster parents is the foster care allowance which is administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week per child under 12 and €352 per week per child aged twelve and over. When a young person between the ages of 18 and 21 is still in training or education, an Aftercare Allowance may be paid. More information is available on the Tusla website regarding the Standardised Aftercare Allowance.

The foster care allowance is exempt from taxation under the Finance Act 2005 and is not taken into account in the means test for most social welfare payments.

Child Benefit at the rate of €140 per month per child will be paid to the foster parent after the child has been in foster care for 6 months and in some cases may be paid from an earlier date depending on the individual circumstances.

The Department provides a range of other payments to parents and families with different qualifying criteria. The foster parent may be entitled to a number of these payments depending on their circumstances. The foster parent should consult the Department website or contact their local Social Welfare Office in the first instance to establish entitlement.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.