The Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995 provide for the payment of allowances to relatives who have children placed with them by health boards in accordance with the regulations. The standard rate of allowance payable in such cases, effective from 5 June last, is £45.60 per child per week for those under 12 years of age and £61.80 per child per week for those over 12 years of age. These rates are in line with those payable to foster parents.
Health boards may pay higher rates of allowance in particular cases where children are placed by boards in either foster care or with relatives. This may, for example, involve a child who has a disability or other special needs. Boards may also make available a range of additional payments to cover items such as medical, school or clothing expenses. In cases where children placed by health boards also qualify for the orphan's allowance payable by the Department of Social Welfare, it is the practice of boards to reduce the standard allowances payable in respect of foster care or placements with relatives by the amount of the other allowance received.
