Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
684. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the payment assistance that is available for relative foster carers; the criteria that they have to meet to avail of payments available to care for the children of their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37679/22]
View answerSection 36 of the Child Care Act 1991 sets out the range of options where Tusla can place a child who is in care. One of these options is relative foster care, where the foster is a friend or relative of the child and who has been assessed and approved as a relative foster carer.
The Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to relative foster carers shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister.
Relative foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over.
It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow relative foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, basic travel, education costs and hobbies and sports activities. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
The foster care allowance is in respect of and for the benefit of the foster child and therefore must be used to meet the day to day costs associated with looking after the foster child.
If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to relative foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. In considering any additional payment or 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.
Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Enhanced allowances for relative foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child.
Tusla does not differentiate between relative foster carers and general foster carers in relation to financial supports for children in foster care.
