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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Ceist:

548 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 in relation to the provision of social work support and the payment of foster care allowance. [1749/02]

Foster care allowances are paid in respect of children who are placed in foster care or relative care under the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995, or the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995. The children in respect of whom these allowances are paid must be in the care of the health board, under the Child Care Act, 1991, either on a voluntary basis or by court order. The responsibility for providing social work support for a family or the issue of taking a child into care under the provisions of the Act are matters for the local health board.

In response to a previous parliamentary question and representations made in relation to this case, the ERHA has advised my Department that the children concerned are not in the care of the health board under the provisions of the Child Care Act. As such they are not entitled to the foster care allowance and they have been advised of this by the South-Western Area Health Board. The board has advised them that they may be entitled to claim child benefit and orphans allowance or pension, which are paid by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. They have been further advised to contact that Department on the matter.
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