Foster families to address council

Foster families are not receiving enough support from the government for the work they do.

This was the opinion expressed by Fianna Fáil Councillor John Paul Feeley at the July meeting of Cavan County Council where he acknowledged the “difficult work foster families do on a short term and long term basis”.

He explained that children in need of foster care often have issues, and foster parents are “taking this on and offering an exceptional service”.

Cllr Feeley went on to say that these foster families are then offered a “very frugal allowance, which has not increased” in many years.

For example, he said they don’t receive an allowance for travelling to appointments.

The Blacklion man stated “substantial changes” are required.

Cllr Feeley suggested inviting members of the Irish Foster Care Association to attend a future council meeting so members could “hear directly from them”.

Fellow Fianna Fáil representative Patricia Walsh supported the motion: “We know in some cases it’s hard to get foster families. Some end up in residential care.”

Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) agreed. “We have a foster member on the town team who could get a call asking to take two children or a young baby” with very short notice.

Fianna Fáil’s Áine Smith also voiced her support, describing foster families as “so compassionate and selfless to take in children in a time of need”.

The motion was unanimously supported.