Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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53. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine additional payments for foster carers in order to recruit more foster carers into the system. [15715/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As of the end of 2022 approximately 89% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favorably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements.

I am aware that while the overall number of children in care has decreased by 621, or by 9.7% over the past 5 years, the number of foster carers has decreased even more significantly by 521 since Q1 2017, representing a fall of 11.6%. This trend has contributed to a reduction in foster care placements as a proportion of all children in care over that period, from 92% to 89%.

I can inform the Deputy that my Department is aware of concerns raised by stakeholders in respect of the basic rates of the foster care allowance and issues around recruitment and retention of foster carers. I can inform the Deputy that a priority of mine going forward will be to secure an increase to the foster care allowance in future budgets.

Subsequent to Budget 2023 I met with the CEO of Tusla 2023, and discussed the issue of payments for foster carers. It was agreed that a single additional once off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care would be paid. This payment, which was the equivalent of an additional weekly payment, was made to foster carers in November of last year. It was my intention that this once off payment would go some way to alleviating the financial pressures foster carers are currently facing.

Additionally I have been engaging with Tusla around the issue of travel costs incurred by foster carers when they are facilitating access or medical visits for the foster child. Tusla committed to reviewing the current supports available to foster carers in respect of mileage payments. An initial paper has been received from Tusla on the 21st of March 2023 and this is currently being reviewed by officials from my Department.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders going forward, seeking to review and improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.