Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 5

Written Answers. - Foster Care.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Ms Hanafin)

Information in relation to the number of families providing foster care is not routinely collected by the Department of Health and Children. However, the health boards have been able to supply information in relation to 1999. Also, reliable figures for children in foster care are not available for 1995 and 1997. Against this background, the following is the information sought to the extent that it is available.

Health Board/Health Authority	No. of children inFoster Care1996	No. of children inFoster Care1998	No. of children in Foster Care1999	No. of familiesproviding Foster Care1999
EHB/ERHA	1,057	1,098	1,159	857
MHB	191	227	224	197
MWHB	319	359	361	261
NEHB	240	347	318	237
NWHB	156	185	179	126
SEHB	253	327	369	302
SHB	418	472	475	387
WHB	164	186	204	156
Total	2,798	3,201	3,289	2,523

Foster care is the main form of alternative care provided by health boards and the service has been expanded and developed over the last decade in line with general developments in the child protection and welfare service. Increase in demand over this period has also led to increasing pressure on the service.

Included in the budget yesterday is an increase of £9 million, £17 million full year costs, for a restructuring of foster care payments and general strengthening of foster care services. The discretionary payments to foster care will be abolished and the level of weekly allowances will be greatly enhanced. These changes are based on the recommendations of the working group on foster care whose report will be published in the near future.

Question No. 34 taken with Question No. 14.