§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what allowances are made available by local authorities for foster carers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [131372]
§ Angela SmithIn Northern Ireland, Health and Social Services (HSS) trusts pay fostering allowances, which are agreed each year in consultation with the four HSS boards. The standard rates known as the 'Model Scheme' in Northern Ireland are currently lower than the average amount paid by local authorities in England. However, boards and trusts have increased allowances within the Model Scheme by 5.5 per cent. for 2003–04. Different rates are payable for children of different ages ranging from £285.88 per four weeks for children aged 0–4 to £513.52 per four weeks for children aged 16+. The scale of foster care allowances is set out in the following table. Enhanced allowances are also available to cover, for example, expenses incurred at Christmas and birthdays and the cost of school uniforms and educational holidays.
My Department is currently developing a Strategy for Children in Need which will include children in foster care. It is intended that we will work closely with HSS boards, trusts and the fostering network to develop a three-year plan for fostering in Northern Ireland. This will have regard to the issues raised in the Strategy for 208W Foster Care Services in Northern Ireland which has already been developed by the four HSS boards in association with the fostering network, including those which relate to remuneration of foster carers.
Scale of foster care allowances £ Age group Per week Per four weeks Per annum 0–4 71.47 285.88 3,716.44 5–10 81.41 325.64 4,233.32 11–15 101.36 405.44 5,270.72 16+ 128.38 513.52 6,675.76
§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered foster carers there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the recruitment of foster carers in Northern Ireland. [131374]
§ Angela SmithThe routine collection of data by my Department on the numbers of registered foster carers in Northern Ireland commenced in 2001 and the returns from that date are presented in the following table. In addition a figure is available for 1997 from a fostering inspection report published by the Social Services Inspectorate. This, too, is presented in following table.
There are difficulties with the recruitment and retention of foster carers. Despite numerous recruitment campaigns by Health and Social Services (HSS) Boards and Trusts, problems with the recruitment of foster carers continue to exist.
The success in recruitment and retention of foster carers is dependent on many factors including remuneration, training, the status that foster carers receive and support, particularly in times of crisis. My Department is currently in the process of developing a strategy for all children in need including those in foster care. It is intended that, as part of that strategy, the Department will work in liaison with HSS Boards and Trusts and the Fostering Network to develop a three year costed fostering plan. The plan will, of course, take account of the issues raised in the Strategy for Foster Care Services developed by the four HSS Boards in conjunction with the Fostering Network, which I understand will be published soon.
Registered foster carers in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997 Number 1997 1,380 1998–2000 1— 2001 1,155 2002 1,132 2003 1,192 1 Data not routinely collected.