Written answers
Tuesday, 25 October 2022
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Children in Care
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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507. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will shorten the time that foster parents have to wait to receive the child benefit payment for children in their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53286/22]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Matters in respect of Child Benefit entitlements are solely the remit of the Department of Social Protection. I am aware however that foster parents are required to wait 6 months after a foster child is placed in their care, before they are entitled to claim Child Benefit. Further, I am also conscious that this issue was raised by foster carers during the consultation process that preceded Tusla's Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022 – 2025.
I will continue to work with my colleagues in Government and other relevant stakeholders in the coming months to improve the supports available to foster carers.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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508. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when foster parents will receive his recently announced additional payment of child benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53287/22]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The CEO of Tusla and I met in the aftermath of the budget, and discussed the issue of supports to foster carers. I recognise that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla want to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way.
Following this engagement it has been agreed that a single additional once-off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care is to be paid as soon as practicable. The payment is to be made at the current foster care allowance rate of €325 for a child under 12 and €352 for a child over 12. It is the intention of Tusla and my Department that the payment should issue before the end of 2022, to all applicable cohorts of foster carers.
I will continue to work with Tusla in the coming months to improve the supports available to foster carers. I will also pursue an increase in the current rate of the foster care allowance in future budgets.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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509. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is undertaking a review of the monthly payments foster parents received to care for their foster children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53288/22]
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. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
Myself and the CEO of Tusla met in the aftermath of the budget, and discussed the issue of supports to foster carers. I recognise that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla want to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way.
Following this engagement it has been agreed that a single additional once-off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care is to be paid as soon as practicable. The payment is to be made at the current foster care allowance rate of €325 for a child under 12 and €352 for a child over 12. It is the intention of Tusla and my Department that the payment should issue before the end of 2022, to all applicable cohorts of foster carers.
I will continue to work with Tusla in the coming months to improve the supports available to foster carers. I will also pursue an increase in the current rate of the foster care allowance in future budgets.
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