Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
982. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to reduce the reliance by Tusla on special emergency arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2914/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla has indicated that it is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in the care of the State.
A number of actions are being undertaken to improve the availability of suitable alternative care placements for children in care. These include:
• The Department has overseen a significant increase in investment in foster care supports, including in relation to the foster care allowance, which was increased to €400 per week for children aged under 12, and €425 per week for those over 12 in 2024. These increases mean that foster carers received over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024. In 2025, this means that foster carers will receive an additional €3,900 in allowances.
• Budget 2025 sets out further investment and support towards children in foster care, including funding which will be used to provide a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement from 2025. There is provision for additional mileage support for foster carers who have significant travel responsibilities for children in their care.
• In addition, the 2025 Programme for Government includes commitments in respect of examining pension provision for foster carers and examining the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers.
• An increase of €145 million was secured in Budget 2025, representing a 14% increase in Tusla’s total budget. This brings Tusla’s total funding to over €1.2 billion for 2025. This increase includes an additional €21m in 2025 in relation to residential care.
• The Department of Children will continue to prioritise residential care in the ongoing capital investment funding engagements with the Department of Public Expenditure, in the next iteration of the National Development Plan.
• Tusla’s Strategic Plan on Residential Care outlines plans for increased residential care capacity over the 2022-2025 period. Tusla has established a property sub-group to support accessing suitable properties for contracted providers in the community, voluntary and private sectors to ensure value for money and safe and appropriate accommodation.
Both Tusla and I share a common aim to meet the needs of all children in mainstream alternative care placements. When residential care and foster care are unavailable, a Special Emergency Arrangement (SEA) is used to ensure an immediate place of safety. Where children are placed in an SEA, regular reviews are required and a child may only be placed in an SEA if it is judged to be the most suitable placement available at the time. All efforts are made by Tusla to move children from SEAs and into mainstream alternative care placements as quickly as possible.
