Fostering is a life-changing experience that involves taking care of a child or young person who is unable to live with their birth parents or relatives for a range of reasons. This could be because of the death of a parent, an illness in the family, or neglect and abuse in the home.
In Ireland, foster carers receive a foster care allowance, which is provided to help with the day-to-day costs of looking after a foster child. A really common question that we receive is – how much is a fostering allowance? Below, we answer this frequently asked question and explain everything you need to know about the fostering allowance in Ireland.
Read on to find out more, and if you’d like to learn about the services that we offer at Compass Child and Family Services, then please visit our website today.
What is the Fostering Allowance?
The standard fostering allowance in Ireland is determined by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, with regards to children and young people aged between 0 and 18 years of age. The fostering rate paid by CFS for children and young people is €352 per week for both long-term and short-term placements.
Payments can also be provided for overnight respite and emergency placements too. Furthermore, enhanced payments can be requested from Tusla Child and Family Agency for identified placements. CFS also provides the best support and comprehensive training for all foster carers with us.
What are the Different Costs involved in Fostering?
There are many different costs involved for foster parents, and the fostering allowance is designed to cover some or all of these costs, making it easier for every foster child and young person to receive the best quality care.
Typical costs include food; clothing and footwear; educational needs; personal care items and toiletries; hobbies and activities; games, treats and toys; holidays and summer camps; pocket money; special occasions; presents for the birth family; transport; and household costs.
What is the Aftercare Allowance?
The Standardised Aftercare Allowance is an allowance that can be paid between the ages of 18 and 21 to young people leaving care, who are still in either education or training. In particular circumstances, support may also continue for an additional two years if the young person is on a clear education or training pathway.
Alongside this, there are also a range of other supports available to all young people leaving care – regardless of whether they’re in education or not – for full details, head over to the Tusla website.
How Can We Help You?
Here at Compass Child and Family Services (CLG), we are a charity providing out of home care arrangements for children in the care of the Irish State. Our philosophy when working with children and their respective families is guided by the principles of Social Pedagogy. Whatever your needs – whether you’d like to know more about aftercare services or residential long-term care – please contact us today.
You can reach us by phone on +353 (0) 61 622040 or email us at info@compasscfs.ie and we will get back to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, visit our website for further details about all of our services. We look forward to hearing from you soon.