Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the income thresholds for the affordable childcare scheme will be reviewed given the rising cost of living being experienced by families at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36096/22]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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254. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is reviewing the affordable childcare scheme ahead of Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36097/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

The National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare.

The scheme is designed so that those on the lowest incomes receive the greatest support.

Where parents are not engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 20 hours per week. Where parents are engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 45 hours of per week.

A recent review of the NCS revealed that, as a proportion of total family early learning and childcare costs, 6% of families receiving NCS support reported that all early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS, while 38% reported that half or more of their costs were covered by the NCS.

Since the NCS review was undertaken, a further package of measures to directly address the costs of early learning and childcare was announced in Budget 2022, including:

- an extension of the NCS universal subsidy to all children under 15, benefitting up to 40,000 children from September this year.

- an end to the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours from spring 2022, benefitting an estimated 5,000 children from low income families since 2 May.

- a new core funding scheme – worth €221m in a full year – to support:

- improved quality through better pay and conditions for the workforce by supporting agreement on an ERO through the JLC;

- the employment of graduate staff; and

- improved sustainability and stability for services.

The new core funding scheme aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers, to the benefit of children, parents, educators and practitioners, and society overall.

A new fee management system, attached to core funding, will mean no increase in fees from pre-pandemic levels for the September 2022 to August 2023 programme year, which, in tandem with developments to the NCS will together deliver significantly improved affordability for parents.

I have committed to building on this in Budget 2023 and I aim to prioritise a reduction in the cost of early learning and childcare for parents by increased investment in the NCS.

The potential models to give effect to such a reduction are currently under consideration in anticipation of Budget 2023. The National Childcare Scheme is specifically designed to allow for rapid changes to subsidies, income thresholds and certain other eligibility criteria as Government decisions are made and exchequer funding becomes available.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the amount being made available to foster carers for the important work that they do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34836/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister.

The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, basic travel, education costs and hobbies and sports activities. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.

If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments.

Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance. Additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs and when authorisation has been received from the Tusla Area Manager. Each application for an additional payment will be accompanied by supporting documentation evidencing the need.

Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.

The foster care allowance is in respect of and for the benefit of the foster child and therefore must be used to meet the day to day costs associated with looking after the foster child. In considering any 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.

A request for enhanced supports must certified by the Principal Social Worker and approved by the Area Manager following submission of an assessment of the child’s needs and supporting documentation. A review arrangement for the enhanced allowance must be part of the submission for approval.

In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive a number of targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a recognised and valued part of the alternative care system. Key elements of this support include a link social worker, access to training and support group meetings and the allocation of a social worker for each child in care. Respite care for children may be arranged if it is part of their care plan.

Pre-assessment and ongoing training are compulsory for foster carers in order to equip them with the skills and knowledge to provide high quality care. Recognising the specific dynamics and the personal nature of relative care, Tusla addresses the training needs of relatives who are foster carers separately. In addition, Tusla provides funding for the Irish Foster Care Association which offers a range of supports to carers, including advocacy, mediation, training and a telephone advice service.

The foster care allowance is one element of the support that Tusla provides to carers when they offer a home and care to children some of whom may have additional, and sometimes significant, needs.

The rate of the foster care allowance is kept under review by officials within the Department and at present there are no plans to change the rate. However, the Department is undertaking an extensive review of the Child Care Act 1991 and will examine foster care arrangements as part of this review.

Further, Tusla has advised that they have recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of a 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. Once the Strategic Plan on Foster Care is finalised by Tusla, it will then be considered by the Department. Any decision to review the current rate of the foster allowance shall be informed by the Tusla Plan and the consultations that have preceded it.