Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1208. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had or intends to have engagement with the Minister for Social Protection around issues within the social welfare system to support existing foster carers and to encourage additional foster carers, including removing the 20 year cap on homecare provision for foster carers, changes in the State pension (contributory) system to allow for periods spent fostering to count towards same; the initiatives that he is pursuing with the Minister for Social Protection to assist foster carers and to promote foster caring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30770/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can advise the Deputy that there has been some recent initial engagement between officials of my Department and the Department of Social Protection in relation to supports for foster carers. To date this engagement has been in respect of that Department’s engagement with foster carers following the publication of the Report of the Pensions Commission.

I understand that the issue of removing the cap on the 20 year Homecaring Period, in the context of qualifying for the State Pension (Contributory), was raised by individual carers and groups representing carers in response to the Pensions Commission’s public consultation process. I have been informed that the Pensions Commission’s recommendations relate to long-term carers (in excess of 20 years caring), and do not specifically relate to foster carers.

I note that the Department of Social Protection intends to bring a recommended response to the report and an implementation plan to Government for its consideration in the coming weeks. My officials will engage further with officials of that Department in respect of those aspects of the report relevant to foster carers, as required.

In addition, Tusla has advised that they have recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of a Tusla Strategic Plan on Foster Care. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted their view that the foster care allowance should be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. When the Strategic Plan on Foster Care is finalised by Tusla, it will then be considered by my Department. This consideration will include issues relating to the foster care allowance and any additional supports for foster carers, including within the social welfare system. Further engagement with the Department of Social Protection will take place as required.