Dublin TD calls for foster parents to have access to one parent family payment

Dublin Mid-West TD Eoin Ó Broin raised the issue of single foster parents and their ineligibility for the one-parent family payment or transitional jobseeker’s allowance with the Minister for Social Protection in the Dáil last week.

The Sinn Fein TD said foster parents should have access to the one-parent family payment.

“Last week I raised the case of Kirsty from Lucan in the Dáil with the Minister for Social Protection,” Deputy O Broin said.

“Kirsty has been a foster parent for more than 13 years.

“She is a long-term foster parent and has also fostered children for shorter periods, emergency stays and mid-length stays.

“In doing that, she has made an enormous contribution to the lives of many children.

“Kirsty now finds herself out of work, Tusla wants her to continue to foster children, however, Kirsty is a single parent.

“She is in the only category of single parent not eligible under the existing legislation for either the one-parent family payment or transitional jobseeker’s allowance.

“Kirsty is eligible for a jobseeker’s payment and, therefore, the officials in the Department of Social Protection, who are just doing their jobs as per the legislation, want her to apply for employment, engage with Seetec and do a range of things not compatible with a single parent to do under that payment.

“I welcome that the Minister during the debate acknowledged the anomaly in the legislation and committed to asking her officials to review the issue and that she is happy to work with me to try and find solution to this.

“It is my hope that common sense will prevail and foster parents like Kirsty will be allowed to do what they do very well, without being in conflict with one or other section of our social welfare, or care, system.”