asked the Minister for Health if she considers that the existing staff of social workers can fully serve the needs of County Kildare; and if she will arrange to assign a full-time social worker to Droichead Nua, County Kildare.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Social Workers.
16.
I have no reason to believe that the existing level of staffing is inadequate for the county.
I am advised by the Eastern Health Board that the present strength of social workers in County Kildare is seven, including one senior social worker. One of these social workers is assigned to cover the Newbridge and Curragh areas.
The decision as to numbers and assignments of social workers required for a particular area rests primarily with the health board.
The Minister appears to indicate that seven social workers are ample for a county the size of Kildare. Would she let us know whether a report by the National Manpower Planning Committee for Personal and Social Services is available to her and if the committee made any recommendations with regard to the allocation for Kildare and in particular the allocation for Droichead Nua? Could she let us know if child care legislation which we had hoped to introduce and which would have given round-the-clock and weekend social worker services in areas such as Droichead Nua is yet available?
The interim report on the employment of social workers issued by the National Manpower Planning Committee for Personal and Social Services considered that, taking into account the views of health boards regarding future expansion, a national ratio of one social worker to 9,000 of the population should be aimed at. That would mean that 374 health board social workers would be required, an increase of 132 over the present number of 242. In the case of the Eastern Health Board area it would mean an increase of 129. That is to be aimed at. I would hope that legislation dealing with child care will be introduced in the future.