Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1772.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will propose to fund a comprehensive suite of supports for foster carers, as agreed in 2023, in the Budget 2025 process. [31477/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Foster care is the preferred model of care for children in care, who cannot live with their families of origin. In recognition of the importance of foster care in contributing to improved outcomes for children in care, it was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024 in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. Support for foster carers continues to be a priority of mine and of my Department as we enter into planning for Budget 2025.

Budget 2024 provided for the largest year on year increase to Tusla’s allocation since its establishment. Tusla’s budget in 2024 will exceed €1.1bn.

As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance increased by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.

These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024, amounting to an extra €300 per month by the end of 2024 for each child placed with them. In total, the changes in Budget 2024 will bring the annual rate of the foster care allowance to an amount of €20,800 for a child under 12 and €22,100 for a child over 12.

If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance.

Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision.

I am aware that travel costs have also been highlighted by foster carers as an increasingly significant financial outlay in respect of the care provided to some foster children. I can inform the Deputy that I have been engaging with Tusla around the issue of travel costs incurred by foster carers. Officials from my Department met with officials from Tusla earlier this month, 3rd July 2024, to progress the development of an improved mileage scheme. Follow up actions to develop the new scheme are still underway and engagement between officials in my Department and their counterparts in Tusla is ongoing with the aim of improving the supports foster carers receive when facilitating exceptional travel requirements for foster children.

Tusla has also continued to progress work on its Therapeutic Hubs. The focus of these teams is on the early identification of therapeutic needs of children on admission to care, which will inform their care plan, and may then involve signposting to an appropriate service delivered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The therapeutic teams may also work directly with a child, or with the child’s network, including foster carers, to support them in meeting the child’s needs.

Support for foster carers continues to be a priority of mine, my Department, and for Tusla, as we enter into planning for Budget 2025. I will continue to engage closely with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, Government colleagues, and representative organisations, in seeking to review and improve supports available to foster carers.