Vol. 396 No. 9
173 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Health if there is any payment available for members of the extended family when they take on extended foster care of a child instead of having him/her put into care; and if he will consider extending foster care payments to relatives.
There is no scheme under my aegis for the payment of relatives who are caring for children in the absence of their parents. However, such persons may be entitled to child benefit, orphan's pension or allowance, family income supplement or supplementary welfare allowance depending on the circumstances of the case. These payments are administered by the Department of Social Welfare.
Foster care payments are payable by a health board only in respect of a child who is in the care of the board and who is placed by the board with foster parents approved by the board. Relatives caring for children who satisfy these conditions would be entitled to foster care payments but not otherwise. I have no plans to alter these arrangements.
