Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004
246 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that relatives who care for children whose addicted parents are incapable of fulfilling their role as parents cannot avail of other payments which are available to relatives who qualify for relative foster care allowance; his views on whether this is discriminatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19653/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe foster care allowance can only be paid in respect of children who are taken into the care of a health board under the Child Care Act 1991 and placed in foster care or relative care in accordance with the Child Care Regulations 1995.
In 1998, the then Minister of State in the Department of Health and Children set up a working group on foster care. The task of the working group was to make recommendations on all aspects of foster care. The report recommended that all payments made in addition to the basic foster care allowance should be abolished and that the basic allowance should be increased. In line with the report, the foster care allowance was substantially increased in August 2001 and all discretionary payments were abolished. There are only two instances where discretionary payments may still be considered — educational fees, excluding expenses such as books, school uniforms, school trips and so forth, and medical expenses not covered by the general medical scheme.
The issue of relative care was dealt with in detail in the 2001 report of the working group, entitled "Foster Care — A Child Centred Partnership". The report sets out a number of basic principles that should guide placements with relatives. These are: that the best interests of the child are paramount; that the child should be placed only in an appropriate, safe, healthy and stable environment; that the standard of care must be equivalent to that provided in a traditional foster care arrangement; that relative placements should only be made where a secure attachment exists or has the potential to develop between the child and the relative concerned; that a partnership approach should be used in developing skills and supports for relatives providing foster care; that placements should not be made as a means to provide income support.
The working group considered the possibility that some children are placed in the care of the health boards in order to provide income support for the family of the child. The group was strongly of the view that such a practice would be highly inappropriate. Income support is a matter for the Department of Social and Family Affairs and those in need of such support should contact that Department. The working group stated that children should only be brought into the care of the health boards if they meet the criteria regarding the need for care and protection set out in the Child Care Act. In addition, the choice of placement of any child in the care system should be based on the particular child's individual best interests.
Under the current legislation, a health board must assess the needs of a child placed in care and the suitability of the prospective foster or relative carers and draw up a child care plan. The implementation of the child care plan places significant responsibilities and duties on foster carers, whether relatives or non-relatives. The foster care allowance is paid in recognition of these additional responsibilities and the additional costs of looking after foster children.
In view of the consideration given by the working group on foster care to the issue of relative care my Department has no current plans to review the Child Care Act 1991 or the Child Care Regulations 1995 in this regard.
