There were queues outside the Oireachtas Audio Visual Room last week, as representative groups and organisations made their final pitches in back-to-back presentations ahead of Budget Day.
Politicians filed in for sessions that sparked their interest on topics they wished to learn more about.
Around forty people attended an event by Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) which sought to highlight issues faced by the people it represents.
The importance of foster care returned to the spotlight in recent weeks with the story of Daniel Aribose.
Pictures provided to the media by his foster sister - marking the first 18 months of his life - highlighted the important role of foster care.
Concern has been raised in recent years over a fall in the number of foster carers due to issues like the cost of living.
In the first three months of 2020, 91% of children who were in the care of the State, were in foster care. By July this year, that percentage had fallen to over 86% (5,046).
There are significant costs involved and there is also the reality that many of the children are extremely traumatised from issues that can include sexual abuse at home and severe neglect.
Due to the foster care shortage, some babies and infants are being moved about in emergencies and being put in short term placements with foster carers.
Following the presentation, CEO Corrinne Hasson described it as "a sad state of affairs when there's a struggle to place babies".
"Babies staying in hospital for longer or being moved from one placement to another, which means they have to adapt to a new environment each time."
Foster carers are given an allowance of €400 per week if a child is under 12, or €425 per week if a child is over 12.
The money is expected to cover all the costs of caring for the foster child including medical and therapy appointments, food, clothes, bedding, toys, school supplies, extracurricular activities, school trips - everything that enables the children to thrive.
Last year was the first time in 15 years that the Government increased the weekly allowance, which points to the need for an index linked allowance, according to Ms Hasson.
During the summer, the Government announced that foster carers were to be included in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance.
This was welcomed by foster carers who were then informed that they would be means tested for the annual payment.
The Irish Foster Care Association pointed out at the time that foster carers take on a huge responsibility by providing safe, stable and nurturing environments for children in the care of the state.
Requiring them to undergo a means test for back-to-school support was ultimately a kick in the teeth.
Ms Hasson says foster carers should be provided a top up payment of the weekly allowance to cover back to school costs immediately and then be automictically included in the back-to-school allowance from next year on.
No pensions
A foster carer who spoke in the Oireachtas AV Room pointed out that she has no pension.
She’s not alone according to Ms Hassan.
People give up work and can take care of up to 40 children on behalf of the state and are not eligible for a contributory pension because they have not worked.
Then, when the child reaches the age of 18, the allowance of €425 ceases and an aftercare allowance of €300 is paid, if the child remains in education.
When a young person does not remain in education after the age of 18 and stays in the foster home, no aftercare allowance or foster care allowance is paid.
Ms Hasson pointed out that not all children continue into third level education and the needs of a young person at 17 years and 364 days does not disappear overnight.
Considering that many will remain living with their foster parents, due to the high cost of rents and for other reasons, the IFCA has called for the aftercare allowance to be aligned to the foster care allowance rate until the young person turns 23 at a minimum.
The drop in the number of foster carers points to the need for fostering to be recognised, valued and supported more according to Ms Hassan.
Otherwise, an increasing number of children will end up in residential care which costs far more for the state to finance, particularly private residential care.
