Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to support pre budget submission of an organisation (details supplied); to support foster families who open their homes and hearts to children in the care of the State, often at great personal and financial cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50609/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Foster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people.

The Programme for Government 2025 (PfG) sets out the Government’s intention to provide further support for foster carers, including further increases to the foster care allowance and the new Initial Placement Payment, a commitment to examine pension provision for foster carers, and examine eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

With regard to aftercare, Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The aftercare allowance amounts to €300 per week and is dependent on the eligible young adult attending an accredited education course, third level course or training programme as outlined in the young adult’s Aftercare Plan. The allowance is provided to cover a young adults day to day costs, including accommodation as they progress in their chosen accredited course or training program. Officials will continue to engage with and support Tusla in improving aftercare services for care leavers.

I am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of genuine concern for foster carers. The PfG contains a commitment to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society, and to acknowledge their long-term commitment and to ensure that they are supported and valued after their fostering years. It should be noted that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is a matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. I look forward to working closely with the Minister for Social Protection and Government colleagues, to progress efforts to improve pension provision for foster carers.

I welcome the recent announcement of the extension of eligibility for the Back to School Allowance to encompass foster carers. This measure is an important step in the Government’s commitment to providing further support to children in foster care. Payment of the Allowance falls wholly under the remit of the Department of Social Protection, and is aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear while attending school.

While I understand that there may be some concern among foster carers that the Allowance will be based on household income, I would note that the foster care allowance is disregarded for the purposes of this Allowance.

With regard to therapeutic services for children in care, Tusla has committed to a strategic approach seeking to deliver an integrated framework for these 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 this year set out a specific action within its 2025 Business Plan to enhance the provision of its therapeutic services at regional level in line with its reform programme, with €2.38m in expenditure planned for this purpose. Any additional funding requirements in respect of Tusla’s Therapeutic Services in Budget 2026 will be given due consideration by officials in my Department.

I have met with a number of foster care stakeholder bodies since becoming Minister for Children, including the Irish Foster Care Association, and I am keenly aware of the current challenges facing the sector. As Minister I fully intend to prioritise foster care and ensure that we build upon the suite of supports of which foster carers can avail.