Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
593. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that an equivalent payment is provided for children in foster care given the fact that foster parents are not an eligible category for the back-to-school allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38925/22]
View answerThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. In 2022, the allowance paid for each eligible child will be €260 in respect of those aged 4-11 or €385 for children aged 12 years and over.
Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance by Tusla. This allowance is provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child’s daily living needs, including the cost of clothing and footwear and school related items. Accordingly, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is not payable in respect of foster children.
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. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the Fostering Allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised Fostering Allowance. Additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs and when authorisation has been received from the Tusla Area Manager.
Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.
Tusla has also advised in cases where access visits result in round trips in excess of 150km, an additional financial support payment may be made. Tusla has further advised an additional financial support payment may also be considered where a foster carer must, for reasons set out in child/young person’s care plan, facilitate travel in excess of 300km per week cumulatively.
I would like to acknowledge the fact that foster carers are the backbone of our child care services. It is vital that our foster care system operates as effectively as possible, for the foster carers and for the children in their care.
Tusla have advised that they have recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of a Strategic Plan on Foster Care. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted their view that the foster care allowance should be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. When the Strategic Plan on Foster Care is finalised by Tusla, it will then be considered by the Department.
Any decision to review the current allowances shall be informed by the Tusla Plan and the consultations that have preceded it.
