Many different types of people can provide foster care. In fact, you might be surprised at the diverse range of people who make excellent foster carers.

• Couples – married, co-habiting, same gender
• Single people – widowed, separated, divorced
• People with disabilities – provided your disability or medical condition does not prevent you from caring for a child
• People with or without children
• People who own their own homes, are in private rented accommodation or local authority housing
• Employed / Unemployed people
• People from different cultures, ethnic or religious backgrounds – having carers from different cultures allows us to match children and young people with suitable families

In all cases it is vital that you enjoy the company of children and young people, you are willing to work with all the people in the child’s life, you do not have a police record for violence or offences against children, you are aware of and open to understanding children’s behaviour when they have been physically or emotionally hurt, you are willing to attend training courses and support groups and you have room in your home for a child or young person

There are no maximum age limits for foster carers. In making a decision about suitability as a foster carer, every effort is made to ensure that those selected are suitable. In other words, the decision to place a child with a particular foster carer is on the basis of the individual child and their needs and each cases is judged on it's own merits

To become a foster parent you will need to undergo an assessment. This will be conducted by a social worker who, over several sessions, will talk to you about your family and personal history, your motivation to foster and your capacity to help a child or young person in need. Garda checks are made on all applicants. You will also need to undergo a medical examination and references will be collected. You will also be required to undergo some training

We value the work foster carers do and the contributions they make to young people’s lives. We provide Foster families with a solid support system to enable them to provide a good standard of care for the children they look after.

There are 2 weekly rates of Foster Care Allowance:

For children aged 0 – 12            €325.00

For Children aged 12+               €352.00

This allowance does not affect tax or state benefits.
The HSE will in extraordinary circumstances make additional grants or payments to meet the needs of individual children.

You may get Child Benefit for each child in your care.
Children in Foster Care are granted a Medical Card.
Standard child care equipment can be provided to facilitate caring for the child.
All foster carers are covered by Public Liability Insurance Support Systems.
Every foster carer has a social worker to support them. 
You will have regular telephone contact with and visits from your social worker.
Each child in your care has a social worker who visits thechild in your home and maintains a link with the child’s birth family.
Support is available from Public Health Nurses, psychologists and child care workers as appropriate.
Other professionals can be accessed if necessary, for example, speech therapists, counselling services etc.
Training is compulsory for all new foster carers.
Access to regular support/training group meetings where topics of interest are discussed.
Respite care for your foster child can be arranged if necessary and appropriate.
Out of hours support is currently being negotiated.
Additional support is available from the Irish Foster Care Association.