John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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641.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what state supports and benefits are paid to foster families who have cared for a special needs person for over 20 years from childhood to adulthood; if there are ongoing care payments that they are entitled to; if the individual that requires the care is automatically entitled to some form of payment and/or a social welfare payment in their own right. [25157/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Foster carers play a vital role in the care of our most vulnerable children. The placement of a child in foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin. It enables children in State care to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment.

The current rate of foster care allowance is €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. This allowance will be increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.

Tusla can provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments, based on the needs of each child. 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.?Tusla have advised that additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs.

I can inform the Deputy that enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly foster care allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care.

Foster carers may qualify for other supports in respect of a foster child in their care with additional needs from the Department of Social Protection. In that regard, I understand that a similar question has been addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

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.