619. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans made regarding pensions for foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51283/25]
Topics / Children in Care
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsChildren in Care
358 questions from 46 TDs, between 5 February 2025 and 17 September 2026.
358
questions
353 written, 5 oral
46
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
3
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 19 |
| March 2025 | 16 |
| April 2025 | 8 |
| May 2025 | 9 |
| June 2025 | 2 |
| July 2025 | 23 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 8 |
| October 2025 | 0 |
| November 2025 | 23 |
| December 2025 | 11 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 19 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| June 2026 | 52 |
| July 2026 | 29 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 3 |
| October 2026 | 0 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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136
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49
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20
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18
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18
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16
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12
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10
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
802. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care currently without an assigned social worker. [51952/25]
155. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to support pre budget submission of an organisation (details supplied); to support foster families who open their homes and hearts to children in the care of the State, often at great personal and financial cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50609/25]
72. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports offered to birth mothers of children in State care; the ways through which they are supported through the process of taking their children into care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49651/25]
1020. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of reports sent to the Gardaí for crimes that were committed against children while they were in State care over the past five years. [47905/25]
1858. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the last review into the foster carers allowance took place; the steps her Department have taken to review the foster carers allowance with regard to the increased cost- of- living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46889/25]
2258. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care who are in their third placement or greater within the previous 12-months in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the reasons for the increase in numbers in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40758/25]
2277. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children or young people either in State care, or previously known to child protection services, who have died in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025, by cause of death, in tabular form. [41123/25]
2280. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unaccompanied minors currently in State care. [41126/25]
2294. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide, for each calendar year from 2020 to 2024 inclusive, and for the period January to June 2025, the number of children who were returned by Tusla to the care of their birth parents after spending time in State care. [41198/25]
2340. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of foster carers regarding the need to increase access to therapeutic supports for children in care, through expanded and fully resourced Tusla therapeutic hubs; the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41776/25]
2341. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of foster carers regarding pension security for foster carers; the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41777/25]
2342. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of foster carers regarding the back to school allowance; if she will consider removing the means testing requirement for foster families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41778/25]
2343. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of foster carers regarding the rate payable under the foster care allowance; if she is conscious of the need to support foster carers in the context of rising costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41779/25]
2345. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to ensure that financial support is addressed in Budget 2026 around therapeutic supports for children in care, through expanded and fully resourced Tusla therapeutic hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41800/25]
2346. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will make an increase to the aftercare allowance in Budget 2026, to align with the foster care allowance and extend support up to the age of 23, at a minimum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41801/25]
2350. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will introduce measures (details supplied) in Budget 2026, to support foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41907/25]
2399. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the up-to-date position regarding her engagement with the relevant stakeholders including foster families, on the proposed national standards for children's social services; the future she envisages for the 2003 standards; the role for foster families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42380/25]
2479. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the engagement there has been with foster carers to deliver on their asks regarding the foster care allowance, pension issues etc; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43551/25]
2494. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider the recommendations put forward by an organisation (details supplied) in its pre-budget submission 2026, including the need to expand access to therapeutic supports for children in care, review the aftercare allowance, improve financial recognition for foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter…
2495. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will examine the possibility of extending the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to all children in State care by removing the means testing requirement for foster families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43817/25]
2503. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of increasing foster care allowance rates by €15 or €25, or alternatively index linking it to inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44052/25]
2504. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of increasing the aftercare allowance to the same rate as foster care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44053/25]
164. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of allowing all fostering caring families to receive the back to school allowance without a means test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39879/25]
165. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of fostering caring families who will benefit from his recent announcement that foster caring families will be eligible for the back to school allowance through a means test; the total cost of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39880/25]