Written Answers. - Children in Care.
Brian Hayes
Ceist:
55
Mr. B. Hayes
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the total number of children who are waiting on foster parents; the plans he has to encourage more people to foster children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21055/01]
The total figure available of children who are currently waiting on foster carers is outlined in the table below:
|
Health Board
|
Number of Children currently awaiting Foster Parents
|
|
ERHA – ECAHBNAHBSWAHB
|
6845*41*
|
|
MHB
|
17
|
|
MWHB
|
7
|
|
NEHB
|
40
|
|
NWHB
|
12
|
|
SHB
|
40
|
|
SEHB
|
23
|
|
WHB
|
11
|
|
Total
|
304
|
These figures are incomplete, as the information for every community care area is not yet available from the Eastern Regional Health Authority. It should be noted also that these figures can change on a daily basis due to placements becoming available and new cases which may arise.
As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the working group on foster care was published in May of this year. The report contains a wide range of recommendations designed to ensure that the structures and services necessary to meet the needs of children in foster care, their families and foster carers will be strengthened and further developed.
The Government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the report on a phased basis. As part of that commitment the foster care allowance was restructured in August of this year. Discretionary payments for foster carers were abolished and the allowance increased from £71.55, 90.85, to £200, 254, per week for a child under 12 and from £85.75, 108.88, to £220, 279, per week for a child of 12 and over. This payment incorporates the orphans pension and allowances payments. I am confident the new scheme will provide foster carers with an adequate allowance to look after their foster children and encourage others to consider applying to the health boards to undertake fostering.
At my request, the Social Services Inspectorate has also established a sub-committee to draw up national standards on practices and procedures in foster care, as recommended in the report. In addition, I have requested health boards to submit plans to strengthen and develop services necessary for the full implementation of the report's recommendations. It should also be noted that health boards are undertaking local initiatives on the recruitment of foster carers. These initiatives include prominent displays of promotional materials, advertisements in local media and sponsorship of events organised in conjunction with the Irish Foster Care Association.
