The Report of the Working Group on Foster Care was published by the Department of Health and Children in May 2001. The report proposed that the weekly rate of foster care allowance be increased from €90.85 to €253.95 for children aged under 12 and from €108.63 to €279.34 for children aged over 12.
In light of the Report of the Working Group on Foster Care, the Government decided to increase the rate of the foster care allowance as recommended while also ensuring that all foster children benefit from the orphan's (non-contributory) pension or orphan's, contributory, allowance.
I understand that there were a number of foster carers and members of the Irish Foster Care Association represented on the working group and that there was wide consultation and general agreement on the recommendations of the report. The working group on foster care also highlighted "the need for administrative efficiency in the payment structure as well as the adequacy of financial supports to foster carers".
Accordingly, orphan's payments which were formerly paid by my Department on behalf of some children in foster care, are now payable in respect of all foster children. Since August 2001 the orphan's payment is paid directly to the health board, on behalf of, and for the benefit of, children in foster care. It is also the case that an orphan payment will continue to be paid in respect of eligible children up to age 22 where they are in full-time education.
Under the new arrangements a foster parent receives a much higher single payment from the health board and no longer has to apply for separate discretionary payments from the health boards or for orphan payments from this Department. This change in arrangements addresses many of the concerns raised by the Irish Foster Care Association concerning the involvement of my Department in foster care situations. It also accords with their strong recommendations that the foster care allowance should be inclusive of all former discretionary payments and entitlements.
These arrangements are under social welfare legislation which provides that the orphans payments may be made to the guardian or to another person for the benefit of the child. In the case of children taken into care, the health board is the legal guardian.
