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Foster Care Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2019

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Questions (1168)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

1168. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost of a private foster care place versus a public foster care place in tabular form. [13034/19]

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Written answers

All foster care placements, whether provided directly by Tusla or sourced through private sector providers, operates using the same model of care. The use of private foster placements is a necessary part of ensuring that the service is available at all times and that Tusla has access to specialised placements.

Tusla Finance Directorate conducted an exercise in 2017 to estimate the total weekly cost of a public foster care placement. This exercise took account of all activity costs relating to foster care including recruitment, administration, supervision, support functions and the foster care allowance of €325 per week for children under 12 and €352 per week for children 13 to 17 years of age.

This exercise estimated that the weekly cost for a child under 12 in general foster care to be €625.63, and a child over 12 to be €652.63.

Private foster care costs approximately €1,000 per child per week.

The table below lays out the approximate cost, per annum, for children under 12, and children over 12, for private and Tusla placements.

Table: Standard rate per annum for Tusla and private placements by age.

Age Profile

Private Provider

Tusla

<12

52,000

32,533

>12

52,000

33,937

Private providers invoice Tusla for additional/enhanced supports required to meet the needs of children as set out in their care plan.

Other arrangements are in place such as respite and additional/enhanced supports. The foster payment policy offers guidelines on the types of payment available, accessible via the link below, for your convenience.

http://hsenet.hse.ie/childfamilyagency/Finance_Payments_FC_AC_SL.pdf

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