Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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221. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the nature and extent of his engagements with the Taoiseach in relation to access to child benefit, the back-to-school allowance and the once-off payments for foster parents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50835/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In carrying out my responsibilities as Minister I engage regularly with the Taoiseach on a wide range of issues, including those issues referenced here. This is particularly the case in the run-up to the Budget where extensive deliberation takes place at Government level across a number of forums, both in meetings and in general discussion. As stated in my response to your second PQ, it bears noting that the specific policy options and choices are the remit of the relevant Ministers, in this case the Minster for Social Protection and the Minister for Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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222. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the possible options or changes in relation to child benefit, the back-to-school allowance and the once-off payments for foster parents as averred to in the statement by the Taoiseach (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50836/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The options for policy reform in the area of supports for parents and foster parents are the remit of the Minster for Social Protection and the Minister for Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth. Those Ministers and their officials are responsible for developing policy in those areas and they can provide further information, if needed.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will meet with a delegation (details supplied) prior to the passage of the Finance Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50837/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The issues raised during the Order of Business on 5 October 2022 are, in the first instance, the policy responsibility of my colleague Minister O'Gorman in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the first instance. As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am responsible for the allocation of public funds, through the annual Budget process, across each area of Government spending and ensuring that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations.

I believe that Minister O'Gorman has written to the Irish Foster Care Association and I understand that he has committed to providing a single additional once-off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care.

The Minister for Children continues to engage with his colleagues across government to see what other supports can be put in place to assist foster carers. I understand that the Minister is due to meet with a delegation from the Irish Foster Care Association next week.