Written Answers Nos. 302-312
302. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to extend the age range of after care allowance to those leaving care to the age of 23; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54307/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraYoung people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. This assessment considers a number of factors including the young person’s educational and accommodation needs.
Upon reaching the age of 18, a young person is deemed to have left State care. All eligible care leavers are supported through aftercare services provided by Tusla. Care leavers, depending on need, may be allocated an aftercare worker. All care leavers, without exception or age limit, can attend drop-in services organised by the Tusla aftercare service.
The Child Care Act 1991, as amended, sets out that where Tusla is providing assistance to a person in accordance with an aftercare plan by arranging for the completion of education and by contributing to maintenance while completing education, and that person attains the age of 21 years, Tusla may continue to provide that assistance until the completion of the course of education or the end of the academic year during which the person attains the age of 23, whichever is the earlier.
Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The aftercare allowance amounts to €300 per week and is dependent on the eligible young adult attending an accredited education course, third level course or training programme as outlined in the young adult’s Aftercare Plan. The allowance is provided to cover a young adult's day to day costs, including accommodation as they progress in their chosen accredited course or training program.
Care leavers not engaged in education and not in employment may be eligible for the full Jobseekers Allowance (€244) rather than the reduced rate (€153.70) for individuals under the age of 25, provided that they meet eligibility criteria.
My Department will continue to engage with and support Tusla in improving aftercare services for care leavers.
303. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to index-link the foster care allowance to the rate of inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54308/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people.
My Department has overseen record investment in foster carers, including a 21% increase to the foster care allowance over the past two years, resulting in the current weekly allowance for children in foster care of €400 per week for children aged under 12, and €425 per week for those over 12.
Additionally, in 2025 foster carers now receive a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement. This payment aims to alleviate the substantial out-of-pocket expenses that can be incurred by foster carers during the initial period after a child is placed in their care.
A revised Mileage Payment Scheme for foster carers also came into effect in April 2025. This broadens the categories of journeys which may be considered eligible for payment under the Foster Care Travel Payments Scheme. Additionally, the cumulative weekly travel distance to qualify for these payments has been reduced from 300km to 250km.
The Programme for Government 2025 (PfG) sets out the Government’s intention to provide further support for foster carers, including further increases to the foster care allowance and the new Initial Placement Payment, a commitment to examine pension provision for foster carers, and examine eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. It is not planned, at this time, to index-link the foster care allowance.
I have met with a number of foster care stakeholder bodies since becoming Minister for Children, including the Irish Foster Care Association, and I am keenly aware of the current challenges facing the sector. As Minister I fully intend to prioritise foster care and ensure that we build upon the suite of supports of which foster carers can avail.
304. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to index linking the foster care allowance to keep pace with rising costs and relieve financial pressure on carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54337/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people.
My Department has overseen record investment in foster carers, including a 21% increase to the foster care allowance over the past two years, resulting in the current weekly allowance for children in foster care of €400 per week for children aged under 12, and €425 per week for those over 12.
Additionally, in 2025 foster carers now receive a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement. This payment aims to alleviate the substantial out-of-pocket expenses that can be incurred by foster carers during the initial period after a child is placed in their care.
A revised Mileage Payment Scheme for foster carers also came into effect in April 2025. This broadens the categories of journeys which may be considered eligible for payment under the Foster Care Travel Payments Scheme. Additionally, the cumulative weekly travel distance to qualify for these payments has been reduced from 300km to 250km.
The Programme for Government 2025 (PfG) sets out the Government’s intention to provide further support for foster carers, including further increases to the foster care allowance and the new Initial Placement Payment, a commitment to examine pension provision for foster carers, and examine eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. It is not planned, at this time, to index-link the foster care allowance.
I have met with a number of foster care stakeholder bodies since becoming Minister for Children, including the Irish Foster Care Association, and I am keenly aware of the current challenges facing the sector. As Minister I fully intend to prioritise foster care and ensure that we build upon the suite of supports of which foster carers can avail.
305. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the start-up funding schemes currently available to individuals or organisations seeking to establish a childcare service, including early learning and childcare and school age childcare services; the eligibility criteria for each scheme; if consideration will be given to expanding supports for new entrants to the sector under the ‘Together for Better’ funding model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54251/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists.
State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. This work will be supported through capital investment under the revised National Development Plan. This work is being led by a new Forward Planning and Delivery Unit which is focused on identifying areas of need, forecasting demand, and planning for the delivery of public supply within the early learning and childcare sector where required.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, which is operating in 2025, is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Existing Core Funding Partner services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. When completed, the scheme will deliver in the region of 1,500 additional full time childcare places for 1–3-year-olds.
Together for Better includes Core Funding, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Access and Inclusion model (AIM) and Equal Start.
Core Funding is a grant for early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs and is designed to improve affordability, quality, accessibility and sustainability. It is a supply-side funding stream, paid directly to providers that is distributed in a fair and reasonable manner and is related to services’ costs of delivery. The calculation of the grant is the same for all services nationwide.
The majority of Core Funding is distributed to services via:
* The Base Rate – Based on a service’s staffed capacity which considers their opening hours, operating weeks, age group of attendees, and number of places available.
Places do not need to be filled, but the correct number of staff as set out in the regulations must be in place.
* Graduate Premiums – Provide funding in support of graduate-led provision. The calculation is based on the number of graduate Lead Educators and graduate Managers in a service and the hours worked by these staff.
* Targeted Measures – These are in place to channel additional State support towards small and sessional services such as playschools, naíonraí or Montessori's. The targeted measures include a flat rate top up for sessional only services. There is also a minimum allocation for all centre-based early learning and care and/or school age childcare providers, regardless of how small they are.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding.
306. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by her Department in the past five years, including the original estimated cost, the final cost, and the reasoning for contracting this work rather than using internal resources. [54322/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
307. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to an increase in the aftercare allowance to align with the foster care allowance and extend support up to age 23; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54332/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraYoung people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. This assessment considers a number of factors including the young person’s educational and accommodation needs.
Upon reaching the age of 18, a young person is deemed to have left State care. All eligible care leavers are supported through aftercare services provided by Tusla. Care leavers, depending on need, may be allocated an aftercare worker. All care leavers, without exception or age limit, can attend drop-in services organised by the Tusla aftercare service.
The Child Care Act 1991, as amended, sets out that where Tusla is providing assistance to a person in accordance with an aftercare plan by arranging for the completion of education and by contributing to maintenance while completing education, and that person attains the age of 21 years, Tusla may continue to provide that assistance until the completion of the course of education or the end of the academic year during which the person attains the age of 23, whichever is the earlier.
Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The aftercare allowance amounts to €300 per week and is dependent on the eligible young adult attending an accredited education course, third level course or training programme as outlined in the young adult’s Aftercare Plan. The allowance is provided to cover a young adult's day to day costs, including accommodation as they progress in their chosen accredited course or training program.
Care leavers not engaged in education and not in employment may be eligible for the full Jobseekers Allowance (€244) rather than the reduced rate (€153.70) for individuals under the age of 25, provided that they meet eligibility criteria.
Officials in the Department for Children keep under regular review the entitlements in respect of Aftercare however I can advise that at this present time I have no plans to increase the rate of the Aftercare Allowance.
My Department will continue to engage with and support Tusla in improving aftercare services for care leavers.
308. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to pension security for foster carers to recognise the years spent caring for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54334/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of genuine concern for foster carers.
The Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society, and to acknowledge their long-term commitment and to ensure that they are supported and valued after their fostering years.
Eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is a matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. The Department of Social Protection has in place a number of schemes for family carers that may already be of benefit to foster carers where they meet the criteria, in the same way as any parent.
The Young Ireland National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 – 2028 also includes an action in respect of State pension eligibility for foster carers. Action 41.2 commits the Department of Social Protection to: “Consider the credits available to foster carers for periods of time spent caring with a view to supporting eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) and also include foster carers within the proposed changes to attribute contributions for periods of long-term care (over 20 years) when caring for an incapacitated dependent.”
I will work closely with Minister Calleary and Government colleagues, to progress effort to improve pension provision for foster carers and the related Programme for Government commitment.
309. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or stolen in the past five years; the number of devices reported; the data risk involved; and the associated cost of mitigation. [54382/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is guided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on ICT policy and security matters. For operational and security reasons, the NCSC has advised that details of systems and processes should not be disclosed which could in any way compromise those efforts. Disclosing such information might assist bad actors to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cybersecurity arrangements.
Therefore, my Department does not comment on operational security matters and I cannot disclose information in relation to lost or stolen devices.
310. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by her Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose; and the costs of replacement or remediation. [54392/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no recorded instances in which software or IT systems procured by this Department were later deemed unfit for purpose.
Further to the above, strong internal processes and governance are in place within this Department, in collaboration with our colleagues in the Office of Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), to ensure that all software and IT systems procured effectively support the carrying out of our business.
Bodies under the aegis of this Department will respond directly to the Deputy.
311. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the neurorehabilitation centre in Bray, Co. Wicklow is now fully operational; if not, when it is expected to become fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54497/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
312. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with Coimisiún na Meán in relation to implementing the international code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54358/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoimisiún na Meán was established in March 2023 further to the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (“OSMR Act 2022”). The OSMR Act 2022 amended the Broadcasting Act 2009 to establish Coimisiún na Meán and dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (“BAI”).
In addition to undertaking the functions of the BAI as the regulator for broadcasting in Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán is to establish a regulatory framework for online safety, update the regulation of television broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand services, and transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive into Irish law.
The Health & Wellbeing Unit in the Department of Health have engaged regularly with An Coimisiún regarding restricting the advertising of infant formula, including follow-on formula. The Department has made two submissions as part of the Interdepartmental Working focused on the restriction of marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar and follow on infant formula. The public consultations were held by Coimisiún na Meán in January and December 2024. Coimisiún na Meán have indicated that the restriction of advertisement of infant formula and breastmilk substitutes is included in their work plan for the future and the Department expects to be involved in further discussions around this area in due course
