To ask the Minister of Health to detail any work undertaken to increase weekly allowances for foster carers.

The allowances paid to foster carers in Northern Ireland (NI) are for costs associated with day to day care; and are outlined within the annual published Fostering Model Scheme. The Department reviews the allowances payable to foster carers on an annual basis in respect of the decision for an annual uplift to apply to these allowances. The annual review considers rates of inflation, the rates of allowances payable in other UK jurisdictions, and what is affordable within the financial envelope available to the Department.

The current published allowance rates are 2024-25 rates, and these include the annual uplift increase of 3% which was applied to foster care allowance rates for the 2024-25 financial year. The current allowances rates are published on the Department of Health website and are available to view at Foster care allowances | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk).

Consideration of an annual uplift to apply to allowance rates payable for 2025-26 is currently under review, and foster carers will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. Payment of any uplift to rates for 2025-26 will be backdated to April 2025.