Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1774.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the Minister for Social Protection to facilitate auto-enrolment for children in foster care to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. [31479/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA), which is provided for by the Department of Social Protection, is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school.

I can inform the Deputy that I have raised the issue of Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility in respect of foster children with Minister Humphreys, who has informed that BSCFA is not payable is respect of foster children as the financial support provided to foster parents by Tusla, the foster care allowance, includes provision for the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child.[ES(1]

As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance increased 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.

Engagement between the Department of Social Protection and my Department in respect of support of foster carers is ongoing. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with my Government colleagues and with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, in relation to continuing to seek to improve the suite of supports for foster carers.