Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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450. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the concrete plans that his Department has to pay additional allowances to foster carers who provide aftercare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62000/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The purpose of aftercare is to help care leavers to transition from care to living as an independent adult and the focus of any supports provided by Tusla are to assist in this transition.

The Deputy will be aware that Tusla’s statutory obligations in relation to care leavers are set out in the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. These include assessments of need, and the preparation of aftercare plans that address those needs.

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, a care leaver may also be entitled to a number of additional financial supports which include the SUSI Grant (which is payable at the higher rate for care leavers),the Tusla Dormant Accounts funded Bursary Scheme and an aftercare grant for moving costs.

The Deputy may be aware that at present Tusla are developing a new Strategic Plan for Aftercare Services. Tusla has advised that a wide and comprehensive consultation process is preceding the development of this strategy. Officials from my Department are engaging in the consultation for this Plan and I look forward to its publication and engaging with Tusla on any recommendations contained within it.

In the interim, there are currently no plans to review allowances in relation to aftercare.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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451. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department can confirm that there will be a comprehensive package for foster carers in the next Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62001/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can inform the Deputy that I am acutely aware that foster carers at this present time are experiencing significant cost of living pressures and the challenges this brings to caring for the children under their care.

It was in this context that the CEO of Tusla and I met following the budget and agreed a single additional once-off cost of living payment for each child in foster care to be paid at the rate of €325 for a child under 12 and €352 for a child over 12.

Although this payment will go some way to alleviate the immediate financial pressures foster carers are facing, I see it as one part of a wider body of work required to improve the supports available to foster carers. While the Deputy will be aware that I am not in a position at this point to give any assurances in respect of the outcome of the budget discussions in 2023, I can assure him that an increase in the rate of the foster care payment will be a priority for me in future budgets.

The Deputy may also be aware that Tusla’s Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022 – 2025 contains a number of recommendations aimed at improving the supports available to foster carers. My Department looks forward to engaging with Tusla in respect of these recommendations and the proposals contained within each of them.

Further, the Deputy will be aware that some issues relating to other financial supports, which have been raised by foster carers, fall within the remit of the Department of Social Protection. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, in the coming months to review and seek to improve supports available to foster carers.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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452. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how advanced is his Department's work on the issue of pensions for foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62002/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I have met with foster carers who have highlighted issues around their eligibility for the State Pension Contributory, which is within the remit of the Department of Social Protection.

I met with my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, in November and discussed the issue of support for foster carers. I am aware that the Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to the benefits of this scheme, on the same basis as other carers, once certain qualifying criteria are met.

The Deputy may be aware that the Report of the Commission on Pensions contains certain recommendations in respect of long-term carers. I can inform the Deputy that officials from my Department are engaging with their counterparts from the Department of Social Protection in respect of this recommendation, seeking to ensure that foster carers are included in this proposal.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders in the coming months to review and seek to improve supports available to foster parents.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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453. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the back-to-school allowance will be paid to foster carers at the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62003/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is administered by the Department of Social Protection, is not payable in respect of foster children.

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. This allowance is provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child’s daily living needs, including the cost of clothing and footwear and school related items.

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.

I am aware however that foster carers have highlighted the effect that the current cost of living crisis is having on them and have raised the issue of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. The Back to School and Footwear Allowance is administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. I have some initial engagement with her in relation to this, and other issues raised by foster carers, and I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with her and with Tusla and any other relevant stakeholders in the coming months to review and seek to improve supports available to foster parents.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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454. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine the matter of mileage rates vis-a-vis foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62004/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As you will be aware the CEO of Tusla and I met following Budget 2023, and discussed the issues of supports to foster parents. During my engagement with the CEO it was recognised that foster parents, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla wanted to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way.

I am aware that one of the issues raised by foster carers was in respect of mileage payments, particularly where foster parents are required to drive children significant distances for access visits, for school, or for medical appointments. I am aware that a significant excess applies, before mileage payments are made.

I can inform the Deputy that I have been engaging with Tusla around the issue of travel costs incurred by foster carers when they are undertaking required travel for the foster child. I can advise that Tusla has committed to reviewing the current supports available to foster carers in respect of mileage payments. Tusla have advised that they will be in a position to provide an update to me on their proposals in the latter half of February 2023.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders in the coming months to review and seek to improve supports available to foster parents, including supports for significant travel costs.