Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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636. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work of his Department to improve foster care services and enhance the support provided to foster parents since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As Minister a priority of mine has been to improve foster care services and improve and expand the suite of supports available to foster carers.

In 2022, Tusla published the Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022 – 2025. My Department engaged with Tusla regarding this plan which forms part of Tusla’s overall Alternative Care Strategy across the continuum of care. The strategic plan set out various recommendations to improve foster care services and strengthen support for foster carers. The implementation plan for this strategy has been underway since its publication, with many commitments now completed.

During my time as Minister a reoccurring challenge expressed by foster carers, Tusla, and other stakeholders had been the rate of the foster care allowance which had not been increased since 2009. As part of Budget 2024 I secured a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance.

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. These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024. In 2025 this means that foster carers will receive an additional €3,900 over the course of the year.

In addition Budget 2025 sets out further investment and support towards children in foster care, including funding which will be used to provide a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement from 2025. The bonus payment will aim to alleviate the substantial out-of-pocket expenses during the initial placement period, which can deter potential foster carers from coming forward and can strain the resources of those already fostering.

I can also inform the Deputy that Budget 2025 includes funding for additional mileage support for foster carers bringing foster children to appointments.

In addition, as part of Budget 2025 there will be a double week of the foster care allowance paid to foster carers ,in respect of each child in foster care, before the end of 2024.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with Government colleagues and with Tusla to support the provision of foster care services and to improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.