The government has decided to provide an additional one-time cost-of-living payment to carers by the end of the year.
Caregivers are charged at the rate of €325 per week for a child under 12 and €352 per week for a child over 12 and under 18.
In certain circumstances, when the necessary criteria are met, increased and additional payments may be made.
Following a meeting between the Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, and Tusla Chief Executive, Bernard Gloster, it was agreed that an additional one-time cost-of-living payment should be paid for each child in foster care.
Payment must be made at the current custody allowance rate of €325 for a child under 12 and €352 for a child over 12 and under 18.
The intent of Tusla and the Children’s Department is for the payment to be issued by the end of 2022 to all applicable caregiver cohorts, including caregivers working with private providers.
Separately, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan will seek cabinet approval to anticipate Ireland’s full participation in the COP27 climate summit.
Mr. Ryan will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for the party’s conference later this month.
He will also request the approval of the Government so that it authorizes him to sign the initiatives or agreements reached during the conference.
The COP27 climate summit is expected to start on Sunday and last almost two weeks.
During this period, the conference will be attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney and Minister of State for Overseas Development Assistance Colm Brophy.
Irish Road Transport Association President Eugene Drennan said he hoped the cabinet would reject Minister Ryan’s approval to attend COP27.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Drennan said it’s “because every time he goes there, he signs us up for another big agenda of green aspirations and we can’t keep up with it.”
He said the continued rise in the price of diesel is “very severe” for his members, reports RTE.
Separately, ministers in Cabinet will be informed today that delivery targets, as set out in the government’s Housing for All strategy, will be met by the end of the year.
They will feel that Ireland remains on track to meet its overall home delivery target of 24,600 homes by the end of the year.
More than 8,000 social houses are under construction. Housing for All defines a goal of 9,000 social homes delivered by the end of the year.
Ways to improve delivery will also be discussed, including expanding modern construction methods and hiring additional construction workers.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Norma Foley will tell the cabinet meeting that inflation has helped increase her department’s spending.
According to the third quarter expense report, net capital spending is €170 million higher than profile and net current spending is €141 million higher than profile.
A 21% increase in construction costs in the year to June, an increase in the supply of special classes and places in special schools, and the arrival of around 12,000 more students from Ukraine contributed to the increase in expenses.
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien will bring a note on the appointment of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as the statutory registration body for the construction sector.
This change was provided for by a law passed by the Oireachtas known as the Construction Works Suppliers Regulation Act.
It is seen as a way to help better protect consumers and ensure that those who interact with a registered manufacturer are dealing with a compliant operator.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys will seek approval to extend eligibility for EU employment schemes.
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