Written answers
Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Children in Care
Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what improved and specific help will be given to emergency foster carers for their contingent need, for example, in the provision of packs of emergency supplies, appropriate to the various age groups, so they can begin, with the necessary ease and equipment, the wrap-around care of highly vulnerable children at a crisis time in their young lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46869/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Tusla has advised that various supports are provided throughout the country to foster carers who foster on an emergency basis. Tusla’s National Out of Hours Service (NOHS) has a number of foster carers who accept placements out of hours where an initial or start up allowance is provided to emergency foster carers to facilitate the purchase of a range of items required to foster on an emergency basis. Tusla has advised that when emergency foster carers receive a child or young person on an emergency basis, they are entitled to an allowance which may be used in part to purchase clothes or emergency essentials and to cover any activities that they may engage in.
Tusla further advised that emergency foster carers are also provided with specific training to help them understand what is expected, and to support them in being able to care for children and young people who are placed in a crisis, and all of the issues that might arise from this.
Tusla also provides ‘Care Packs’ to children and young people who are admitted to care on an unplanned basis. Tusla has advised that the contents of these packs were informed following consultation and engagement with children and young people and contain emergency supplies appropriate to the various age groups.
Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions his Department has taken to satisfy itself as to the quality and cleanliness of hostels used by Tusla as emergency accommodation for vulnerable teens; and if such actions have not been undertaken, whether his Department will now commit to doing so and as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46870/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
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