Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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200. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the official procedure for Tusla giving instructions to foster carers; if instructions are to be made in writing and not just verbally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23559/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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To reply to the Deputy's question my Department requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following:

Tusla does not have any policy which indicates if ‘instructions’ are to be provided in writing, or verbally, to Foster Carers. It is Tusla's intention that Foster Carers are as considered key partners in care planning and decision-making, for the children and young people in their care, but the agency understands that is not the experience of all Foster Carers at this time. During recent engagements with Foster Carers, Tusla has heard from Foster Carers who have had positive experiences of Care Planning, where they have received copies of the child or young person’s care plan, and others where they have not.

Foster Carers have also informed Tusla that there is information that they would like to receive in writing, such as information on their entitlements, how to access services, or approaches to positive engagement with the children and young people in their care, and Tusla is now working to develop this information and ensure consistency in approach.

Tusla are currently finalising a Strategic Plan for Foster Care 2022-2025. The ambition of this plan is to ensure that Tusla implements the recommendations, based on feedback from internal and external stakeholders including Foster Carers, to promote a partnership approach and to ensure consistency in service provision, including those issues raised in the Deputy's correspondence.

Should the Deputy have any specific information in relation to concerns raised by Foster Carers in relation to how they were communicated with, or received instructions, or whereby Foster Carers are experiencing challenges in this regard, Tusla would welcome further information and the opportunity to address these inconsistencies with these Foster Carers.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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201. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of standardisation in the expenses that Tusla will cover with regard to foster carers; if his attention has been further drawn to foster carers paying for their own Tusla medical examinations and fees in relation to children’s passports; the reason that the coverage of certain costs varies across the country; if he will provide a list of the of expenses that Tusla must cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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To reply to the Deputy's question my Department requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following:

The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995, and the Child Care (Placement of Children in Relative Foster Care) Regulations 1995, state that the allowance payable to Foster Carers should not be less than an amount specified by the Minister, is exempt from taxation and is paid in respect of the child in their care to meet the child’s daily living needs. The weekly allowance is €325 per week per child under 12yrs and €352 per week per child over 12yrs.

Enhanced allowances can be paid when a longer-term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly rate may be paid in respect of children, if they have additional medical or educational needs that require an additional level of care. In considering an enhanced allowance, the assessing social worker is required to evidence that the standard fostering allowance does not adequately provide for the cost of caring for the child.

Tusla have promoted standardisation in the application of enhanced payments. However, the Agency is aware from recent engagements with Foster Carers of some variations in other payments, for example the costs associated with medical expenses or for reviews of foster carers. In February 2022, instruction was issued to all Tusla Areas to confirm payment of these costs. In relation to the specific query on the cost of passports, it would be intended that the fostering allowance would cover the costs of passports.

Should the Deputy have any specific information in relation to areas that this may not be the practice or whereby specific foster carers are experiencing variation in practice in relation to foster care payments, Tusla would welcome further information and the opportunity to address these inconsistencies.

In discharging its responsibilities, Tusla is committed to ensuring that policies, practices, and financial supports are applied in an equitable and consistent manner across the service, to ensure that children and young people in foster families receive the best possible level of care and support.