Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide additional funding to cover essential expenses for foster carers, including placement start-up costs and fair travel reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38409/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Foster care is the preferred model of care for children who cannot live with their families of origin. In recognition of the importance of foster care in contributing to improved outcomes for children in care, it was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024 in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers.

As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance increased by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12. In total, the changes in Budget 2024 will bring the annual rate of the foster care allowance to an amount of €20,800 for a child under 12 and €22,100 for a child over 12. If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Support for foster carers continues to be a priority of mine and of my Department as we enter into planning for Budget 2025.

I can advise that continuing to improve the suite of supports foster carers can avail of is a priority of mine and I can assure the Deputy that consideration will be given to all proposed supports in the context of Budget 2025, including supports towards placement start-up costs.

I am also aware that travel costs have been highlighted by foster carers as an increasingly significant financial outlay in respect of the care provided to some foster children.

Officials within my Department have been engaging with their counterparts in Tusla to review the current supports available to foster carers in respect of mileage payments. This engagement is ongoing with the aim of improving the supports foster carers receive when facilitating exceptional travel requirements for foster children.

Improving supports for foster care continues to be a priority of mine, my Department, and for Tusla, as we plan for Budget 2025. I will continue to engage closely with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, Government colleagues, and representative organisations, in seeking to review and improve supports available to foster carers.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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276. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that children in foster care are auto-enrolled in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38410/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA), which is provided for by the Department of Social Protection, is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school.

As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance increased to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.

I can inform the Deputy that I have raised the issue of Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility in respect of foster children with Minister Humphreys, who has informed that the BSCFA is not payable in respect of foster children as the financial support provided to foster parents by Tusla, the foster care allowance, includes provision for the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with my Government colleagues and with relevant stakeholders in relation to continuing to seek to improve the suite of supports for foster carers.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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277. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will enhance funding for Tusla’s regional therapeutic teams, to ensure timely therapeutic interventions for children in care who have experienced trauma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38411/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is required under the Child and Family Agency Act (2013) to support and promote the welfare and protection of children; to support and encourage the effective functioning of families; and to provide services relating to the psychological welfare of children and their families (excluding the provision of specialist mental health services for children).

Tusla has committed to a strategic approach seeking to deliver an integrated framework for therapeutic services as part of a three-year plan to establish the high-level framework and operating model for Tusla Therapeutic Services. As part of this plan Tusla has established multi-disciplinary teams across six service areas by recruiting Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists to work with existing therapeutic staff such as psychologists.

Tusla has advised that the focus of these teams is on the early identification of therapeutic needs of children on admission to care, including children to be placed in foster care, and which will inform their care plan.

Tusla has set out a specific action within its 2024 Business Plan to have six fully operational Multidisciplinary Area Based Therapeutic teams put in place. Tusla has advised that the teams in the six service areas are now nearly at full strength. I am also aware that it is an aim of Tusla that 100% of new children or young people coming into State care in the six areas where Therapeutic Teams have been funded will have multidisciplinary input into their care planning.

Tusla is currently engaging with the Department detailing the funding requirements for the Agency in 2025. I can assure the Deputy that I will work with Government colleagues through the Estimates process and any funding decisions announced following Budget 2025. Any additional funding requirements in respect of Tusla’s Therapeutic Services shall be considered in this context.