A report by the Fostering Network shows that all health and socialservices trusts in Northern Ireland pay below recommended minimumfostering allowances.
For 2005/06 these start at 112 per week for the youngest child,but the survey found that in all 13 trusts in the province theequivalent rate is just 75 per week.
Foster carers in more than half of local authorities in England,Scotland and Wales receive allowances above these rates.
Kate Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Northern Ireland, said:"We simply can't go on, year after year, expecting foster carers tocover the costs of fostering from their own pockets. Not only are fosterfamilies suffering as a result, but fostered children are also beingshort-changed.
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