Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
351. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to provide an enhanced package of resources to foster carers; if he and or his officials have undertaken an analysis of current supports; and if he will outline the way in which foster carers can access additional resources if required in the short and medium term. [18812/23]
View answerFoster 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. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
The foster care allowance is one element of the support that Tusla provides to carers when they offer a home and care to children some of whom may have additional, and sometimes significant, needs. If required, Tusla can also provide 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. Tusla have advised that 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.
I am conscious of the disappointment expressed by foster carers that no increase to the foster care allowance was granted in Budget 2023. A priority of mine going forward therefore will be to secure an increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024.
The Deputy may also be aware that travel costs have also been highlighted by foster carers as an increasingly significant financial outlay in respect of the care they provide to foster children. I can inform the Deputy that this is an issue on which I am currently engaging with Tusla.
Additionally, the Deputy may also be aware that last year Tusla published their Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022-2025. Contained within this Plan is a commitment by Tusla to pilot a model in each region to put in place peer support for foster carers, which I welcome.
I also welcome the commitment contained within the Plan outlining Tusla’s intention to review the model of respite for children and young people in foster care, including ‘respite networks’, with the aim of establishing networks of foster carers to provide respite support to each other.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla, with my Government colleagues, and with any other relevant stakeholders going forward, seeking to review and improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.
