Companies get €1.3k a week per foster child

Private companies are enjoying a multimillion-euro bonanza for providing foster care to children, figures show.

According to figures provided by the Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald, private firms are being paid more than €1,300 per week to provide private foster care for each child in their care.

According to Ms Fitzgerald, at present there are 251 children in private foster care in the State at a weekly cost of €342,265, or €1,363 per child.