Vol. 549 No. 1
148 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason no payment has been made to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14; if he will request the health board to make payments immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5957/02]
Payments are made in respect of children who are taken into the care of the health board under the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, and placed in foster care or relative care in accordance with the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 or the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995 Under the regulations, a health board must assess the needs of a child placed in care and the suitability of the prospective foster or relative carers, and draw up a child care plan. The implementation of the child care plan places significant responsibilities and duties on foster carers, whether relatives or non-relatives. The foster care allowance is paid in recognition of these additional responsibilities and the additional costs of looking after foster children. Responsibility for the provision of foster care allowance in this case rests with the ERHA. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to her directly.
