Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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264. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if serious consideration will be given to increasing the rate of foster care allowance to take cost-of-living increases into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45337/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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 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.?

Tusla are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan on Foster Care 2022-2025 and I am aware that Tusla has recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of the Plan. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted the need for the foster care allowance to be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. Tusla is currently finalising the plan, which will then be considered by my Department.?

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if serious consideration will be given to increasing the after-care allowance that replaces the foster care allowance in respect of young persons who remain living with foster carers after the age of 18 years and continue in education and training to take the cost-of-living increases into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45338/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Tusla has a statutory obligation to prepare an aftercare plan for every young person leaving care who is eligible under section 45 the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. Further, this plan is informed by an assessment of need carried out prior to the young person leaving care. Specifically the Act states that any assessment of need shall include an assessment by Tusla of the needs (if any) of the person being assessed in relation to: education, financing and budgeting matters, training and employment, health and wellbeing, personal and social development, accommodation and family support.

Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The ‘aftercare allowance’ amounts to €300 per week and is available to care leavers up to the age of 23. In addition, care leavers may also be entitled to a number of additional financial supports in respect of education which include the SUSI Grant (which is payable at the higher rate for care leavers) and the Tusla Dormant Accounts funded Bursary Scheme.

Care leavers not engaged in education and not in employment are eligible for full Jobseekers Allowance rather than the reduced rate, provided that they were in the care of Tusla for 12 months prior to their 18th birthday.

Eligible care leavers are also entitled to an aftercare grant. This is a once off payment paid to the eligible adult when they leave a placement and is to assist with rent/ deposit and start-up costs associated with initial moving home expenses.

Tusla has advised that following four years of implementation of the Aftercare Strategy, they have fully implemented the agreed standardised Aftercare service delivery model. Tusla has advised that they continue to further develop and enhance Aftercare Service delivery with the aim of meeting identified need while being informed by and in consultation with internal and external stakeholders.

Tusla has advised that they are currently in preparation for and moving towards the next phase in the service improvement plan for Aftercare scheduled to commence in the autumn of 2022. This next phase will set out the Tusla Strategic Plan for Aftercare Services 2022-2025 for care experienced young people and young adults. Tusla has advised that this will involve a wide and comprehensive consultation process in the development of this strategy, which also includes a review of the current Finance Policy for Aftercare.