AQW 51151/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on foster care payments, including any plans to increase the number of foster carers.
Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 7 September 2026
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 7 September 2026
- Answer due by
- 22 September 2026
- Answered
- 7 October 202630 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Foster carers in Northern Ireland (NI) are entitled to an allowance to cover the cost of caring for foster children in their home. Allowances are set at a regional level, by age (banding), and are outlined within the annual published Fostering Model Scheme. My Department reviews the allowances payable to foster carers on an annual basis in respect of the decision for an annual uplift to apply to the allowances.
For 2025/26, an annual uplift increase of 4% was approved and has been applied to the previous foster care allowance rates (for the 2024/25 financial year). The payment of this uplift to rates for 2025/26 was backdated to April 2025 for foster carers, where applicable.
In relation to 2026/27, an annual uplift increase of 3% has also been approved for the year, and this further annual uplift has been applied to the 2025/26 foster care allowance rates. Similarly, the payment of this 2026/27 uplift to rates has been backdated to April 2026 for foster carers, where applicable.
The updated allowance rates for 2025/26 and 2026/27 have now been published on the Department of Health website, and are available to view at the link below:
www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/foster-care-allowances
The annual uplifts for 2025/26, and subsequently for 2026/27, have been applied to the extant Fostering Model Scheme allowance rates. Therefore, the uplifted rates will continue to apply for foster carers in line with the Fostering Model Scheme, and there has been no change to the existing terms associated with the fostering allowances.
In regards to foster carer recruitment, the HSC Trusts take an ‘always recruiting’ approach to fostering recruitment activity to ensure this message is visible to a wide audience using different communication tools, including in-person engagement, virtual information events, PR opportunities and social media advertising. Targeted recruitment campaigns are utilised to address unmet need and communicate with specific audiences, i.e. fostering teenagers or sibling groups.