Tony Gregory
Question:48 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the number of children placed by the Eastern Health Board with families for long term care who do not qualify for a fostering allowance. [6594/95]
Written Answers. - Children in Care.
Fostering allowances are payable by health boards to approved foster parents in respect of foster placements that they arrange. I understand from the Eastern Health Board that all foster parents in its area are in receipt of the appropriate fostering allowance.
Apart from the fostering scheme, the Eastern Health Board also assists in placing a small number of children with relatives where it is considered to be in the best interests of the child. Such relatives are not regarded as foster parents and no foster allowance is paid in these cases. However, such families may qualify for a dependent child allowance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.