Eamon Scanlon
Question:100. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection the initiatives he is taking to support foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33147/25]
View answerThursday, 19 June 2025
Questions (100)
Written answers
The Government is very conscious of the important role of foster carers in our society. Support for foster carers is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and Tusla, an agency under the aegis of that Department.The Foster Care Allowance is paid by Tusla. In 2025 it is paid at rate of €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for children aged 12 and over. The payment is not means-tested and it is paid in respect of each foster child.In the Programme for Government, we committed to examining the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers. We have done that and I am really pleased that children for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid will be eligible for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance this year, once they meet the qualifying conditions for the payment. This is something that representative groups have been calling for. It is estimated that up to 2,300 children, for whom Foster Care Allowance is being paid, will now qualify for the payment. Applications for this scheme are now open until 30 September.My Department provides a comprehensive package of income supports covering a range of contingencies such as disability, caring and job seeking. Foster carers may qualify for these income supports as long as they meet the eligibility conditions. Where a foster carer is in receipt of a primary payment from my Department they may be eligible for a Child Support Payment in respect of any foster child in their care.It is important to note too that the Foster Care Allowance is not assessed as means for any social welfare payments provided by my department.Where a child is placed into care, the qualified parent, usually the child’s mother, retains the Child Benefit payment for six months. After six months in continuous care, the Child Benefit for the child may be paid to the foster carer. This is in order to preserve the birth parent’s entitlement where the child is placed in short-term foster care.I know pensions are another issue of concern to foster carers. The current State Pension Contributory system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate. Foster carers are entitled to the benefits of the Homemaker’s Scheme or HomeCaring Periods, and they may also be entitled to long-term carer’s contributions where they meet the criteria and 20-year threshold.Officials from my Department have met with Foster Carer Representatives and provided detailed explanations on the State pension system and the related contributions necessary to qualify for a social-insurance pension and the options open to them.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.