asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that in determining the amount of pension to which a widow who is a foster parent of a boarded-out child is entitled, the allowance received by her for the maintenance of the child has been and is being assessed as means; and if, in view of the weekly allowance of approximately 6/- per week granted by local authorities for such boarded-out children and to ensure that the full amount allowed is used in providing food for such children, he will take steps to exclude from the means test such allowances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foster Parent and Means Test.
The question is based upon a misconception of the position. The means test under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts applies only to non-contributory pensions. The Acts require that, in calculating the means of a claimant to a widow's non-contributory pension, there be taken into account all income in cash received by her and the net cash value of any income derived from her personal exertions.
In the case of a person acting as foster parent this is generally assessed at the nominal fraction of 10 per cent. of the allowance received in respect of the child.
I am looking into the matter to see whether a modification of this arrangement would be warranted.