Vol. 549 No. 3
267 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the fact that there is a substantial difference in the amount of allowance being paid by the health board to foster parents and that being paid by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to relatives of orphans, he will consider payment of the balance by the health boards to recipients of the orphan's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6759/02]
The foster care allowance is paid 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. The new restructured foster care allowance scheme, which was introduced last year, incorporates the orphan's allowance or pension. The new rates for the allowance are €270.50, £213.05, per week per child under the age of 12 and €296.50, £233.51, per week per child aged 12 and over. The scheme was designed to give effect in practice to the recommendation of the Report of the Working Group on Foster Care and to ensure that all children in foster care are treated fairly and equitably.
The payment of the orphan's allowance or pension is a matter for the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. These payments are made in accordance with social welfare legislation, where both parents are dead or one parent is dead, unknown, has abandoned or refused or failed to provide for the child and the other parent is unknown or has abandoned or refused or failed to provide for the child.
