376 children in care

There are currently 190 children on care orders, aged between one month and 18 years, and 186 children in foster care, aged up to 21 years.

Answering two parliamentary questions by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat, Family Minister Dolores Cristina said 160 of the children under care order were living in alternative accommodation in 17 residences. The other 30 were still living at home in a process of reintegration with their families.

Up to 70 other children were staying in residential homes and could be fostered. New initiatives to increase the number of foster carers included an intensive campaign that has been going on all year.

Minister Cristina said that Budget 2010 had increased the social benefit for foster care from €40 to €70 per week, and increased the age range from 18 to 21 years. There was also an allocation of €73,000 for children with special needs who were in foster care.