Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if additional supports for foster parents are available (details supplied); his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24207/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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At the beginning of this public health emergency, Tusla’s Chief Executive established a national crisis management team to ensure service continuity for priority service areas.

Services for children in care (including foster and residential care) were identified as one of these priority areas. Local social work team continued to provide services to foster carers and children in foster care throughout the public health restrictions.

The support to foster carers included fostering link social workers  contacting all Tusla foster carers with regard to the children they are caring for and to offer advice, support and if required additional services to foster carers. Additional guidance was also provided to Tusla staff with regard to home visits and arranging contact for children in care with their birth families during this time.

The extension of aftercare and fostering supports (including the allowance) for any young people in foster care who were turning 18 years during the pandemic was approved owing to the levels of uncertainty with regard to securing accommodation and/or future educational options.

It might also be noted that a Tusla operated out of hours emergency fostering support service is available 365 days a year 6pm to 7am Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 6pm to 7am on weekends and bank holidays to foster carers.  Foster carers can call the Emergency Fostering Support Service, the following types of circumstances:

- Where a child is involved in a medical emergency.

- Where a child in care has gone missing from care.

- Where carers are struggling to manage a challenging incident with a foster child.

- Where the placement of the child is at serious and immediate risk of breakdown.

- If there are medical consent queries.

- If there is an urgent query regarding the foster child’s birth family.

- If an emergency situation takes place within the foster family, such as a bereavement.

- If a child discloses a serious child protection or welfare concern.

All calls are dealt with by social workers based in Tusla’s national office and will offer advice, and lead out on a plan of action to mitigate any risks to the safety or wellbeing of the child/young person in care.

There is also regular contact between Tusla and the Irish Foster Care Association to update them on actions being taken and on any issues for foster carers that the Association had identified.

Should the Deputy have contact with a foster carer who has any worries or concerns with regard to their fostering role, I understand Tusla would be more than happy to support the foster carer with their query.