UNHELPFUL “myths and misconceptions” are unfairly denying children a loving home with Donegal families, Tusla has warned.
The State body’s appeal follows new stats that show thousands of kids are in foster care and hundreds more need loving homes in counties like Donegal.
Gaps exist because local families are unfairly deterred from fostering due to unhelpful misinformation, according to the national child and family agency.
It is now encouraging more families in the county to foster during National Fostering Awareness Month, which runs throughout June.
Tusla’s chief foster care spokesperson Jacqueline Smyth said: “Foster carers make an enormous difference in the lives of children and young people in communities across Donegal.
“We know there are many people who could foster but often rule themselves out because of myths and misconceptions around who can foster.”
The weekly Foster Care Allowance, which is tax-free and is not means-tested, is €400 per child under 12 years old and €425 per child for those aged 12 and over.
Some 5,822 children are in care in Ireland, with 5,064 – some 87 per cent of them – living with foster families.
The number of new foster carers has increased year-on-year over the past three years, totalling 606 since 2023, but more are needed in Donegal, according to Tusla.
Jacqueline said: “Many people believe they are too old, need to own their own home, or need to be married before they can foster.
“Some people also believe that foster carers are only required in cities and large towns and not in rural areas.
“In reality, foster carers come from urban and rural areas, from different backgrounds and family types.
“Tusla Fostering has many different and wonderful foster carers, all taking care of different and wonderful children”.
She added: “There is no upper age limit for fostering and foster families can include single people, same sex couples, lone parents, blended families, job seekers and people who do not own their own home.
“Tusla Fostering says this diversity is vital in meeting the needs of children and young people in care.”
As part of efforts to promote foster caring in Donegal, several foster families from across the county met to create a colossal piece of sand art at Marble Hill Beach.
Tusla Donegal sand art event on Marble Hill Beach to mark National Fostering Awareness Month.
Paul McLaughlin and Meadhbh McGettigan from Tusla with Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District cathaoirleach, Cllr Ciaran Brogan, at the sand art event on Marble Hill Beach to mark National Fostering Awareness Month.
Visual artist Sean Corcoran worked with the families and children and to create a huge tree with many branches and leaves with a centre heart-shaped motif to represent the new Tusla Fostering logo.
Tusla said it “symbolises the collective strength of the Donegal fostering community”.
Tusla was established on January 1, 2014, with responsibility for a wide array of statutory functions, including fostering services to children.
For more information about fostering, visit the fostering.ie website, or contact the [email protected] or Freefone 1800 226 771.