The Irish Foster Care Association has said it is "disappointed" that foster carers received nothing in the budget announced yesterday.
The situation was brought up earlier today during a phone-in with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne.
Among those questioning their Budget 2023 decisions was a foster carer called Jim who pointed out that the Foster Care Allowance has not been increased since 2009.
The payment consists of €325 per week for a child under 12 and €352 per week for older children.
Minister McGrath replied that he understood the value of foster parents and he believed TUSLA could consider requests for additional supports.
He said he would engage with the Minister for Children on the issue.
Joe Duffy's Liveline also heard from some foster carers about the lack of any increase in their allowance for 13 years.
One caller told the programme: "I sat and listened to the budget with such great upset... sadness for the children in our care." She said many children in foster care have additional needs.
The Irish Foster Care Association said its pre-budget submission clearly outlined the challenges facing foster carers today and the need for urgent support.
It had sought an increase in the foster care allowance by €100 per week and a 'one-off' setting up allowance of at least €350.
The association had also asked the Government to cover mileage costs involving foster children from the point of leaving home, with no excess.
It urged that the Back-to-School allowance be extended to foster carers and that they should be eligible for the state pension.
Catherine Bond, CEO of the Irish Foster Care Association said today: "The Foster Care Allowance has not increased since 2009 and foster carers feel very let down by the State.
"Foster carers don't have access to the back to school allowance, they have to pay mileage for access visits out of their own pocket and they can not access the State pension.
"This is not a situation that can continue and IFCA will be seeking an urgent meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister [for Children] Roderic O’Gorman on behalf of our members and foster carers across Ireland."
