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Child and Family Agency

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022

Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Questions (201)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

201. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of standardisation in the expenses that Tusla will cover with regard to foster carers; if his attention has been further drawn to foster carers paying for their own Tusla medical examinations and fees in relation to children’s passports; the reason that the coverage of certain costs varies across the country; if he will provide a list of the of expenses that Tusla must cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/22]

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Written answers

To reply to the Deputy's question my Department requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following:

The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995, and the Child Care (Placement of Children in Relative Foster Care) Regulations 1995, state that the allowance payable to Foster Carers should not be less than an amount specified by the Minister, is exempt from taxation and is paid in respect of the child in their care to meet the child’s daily living needs. The weekly allowance is €325 per week per child under 12yrs and €352 per week per child over 12yrs.

Enhanced allowances can be paid when a longer-term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly rate may be paid in respect of children, if they have additional medical or educational needs that require an additional level of care. In considering an enhanced allowance, the assessing social worker is required to evidence that the standard fostering allowance does not adequately provide for the cost of caring for the child.

Tusla have promoted standardisation in the application of enhanced payments. However, the Agency is aware from recent engagements with Foster Carers of some variations in other payments, for example the costs associated with medical expenses or for reviews of foster carers. In February 2022, instruction was issued to all Tusla Areas to confirm payment of these costs. In relation to the specific query on the cost of passports, it would be intended that the fostering allowance would cover the costs of passports.

Should the Deputy have any specific information in relation to areas that this may not be the practice or whereby specific foster carers are experiencing variation in practice in relation to foster care payments, Tusla would welcome further information and the opportunity to address these inconsistencies.

In discharging its responsibilities, Tusla is committed to ensuring that policies, practices, and financial supports are applied in an equitable and consistent manner across the service, to ensure that children and young people in foster families receive the best possible level of care and support.

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