Foster parents may be in line to receive an increase in child-in-care benefits during the upcoming Budget, Justice Minister Chris Said said.

Carers receive child-in-care benefits of €70 per week

He said the Government was willing to review the financial support given to foster families and would start discussions to come up with a strategy to develop the services offered to children in care.

Earlier this year the National Foster Care Association commissioned a study that showed that 80 per cent of foster carers said they needed more financial support from the Government.

At the moment, foster carers receive €70 a week in child-in-care benefits.

Dr Said was speaking during an educational conference organised by the association yesterday.

He said Malta was the only EU country where the number of children being fostered was on the rise.

When fostering started in Malta, 29 children were fostered and the number had reached 265 this year.

As a result the number of children living in residential homes was decreasing and, instead, children were given the opportunity to live in a loving family environment.

Recent figures showed there are about 120 children waiting to be fostered.

“For various reasons a number of children are separated from their biological parents and are brought up by other families. This separation is often traumatic, but the experience which you (foster families) give them is unique and helps them overcome this trauma,” he said.