A Co Monaghan woman is calling on the government to ensure that back to school allowance is paid to all children in foster care.
Olivia Larkin who became a foster parent back in 2019 says foster parents across Cavan and Monaghan are in crisis and should not be means tested for back to school allowance.
She believes the Irish state has a responsibility for vulnerable children in its care, however the system has failed many of these children.
Olivia said there is an "absolute crisis" in foster care sector at the moment.
According to Olivia, people are leaving and are not being replaced, and new people are not coming on board.
Speaking to Northern Sound, the local foster parent believes this is an issue of "huge national importance" and this mean-spirited decision on back-to-school allowances by the Government will do "absolutely nothing" to encourage more people to consider opening their hearts and homes to vulnerable children.
Olivia explained; "There's a question here about how the government value how children are raised and investing in the nations future. the fact that foster carers don't qualify automatically for pension is something that puts a lot of people off, the fact that the back to school allowance is means tested as well just shows the lack of understanding that's here in relation to the lived reality of foster parents."
