asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the number of social workers employed in the Southern Health Board region is adequate to deal with the essential community care needs of the region.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Southern Health Board Social Workers.
12.
I am aware that the Southern Health Board in recent months have been reviewing their range of community care services. The board have effected economies within their overall community care resources which have facilitated the employment of additional field workers. My Department approved, on the 8 December last, the recruitment of a number of additional staff including two social workers.
The adequacy of community care services in each health board area, including the number of social workers employed, is currently being reviewed by the health boards in consultation with my Department, in the light of the Child Care Bill which is before the Dáil. I will carefully consider the outcome of this assessment when it is completed.
Is the Minister aware that in the Cork region, in particular, there are at the moment a number of children in care who would more suitably have been fostered out to families? There are a large number of families anxious to have these children fostered with them, but because of the grave shortage of social workers that is not possible. As a matter of urgency, would the Minister ensure that in the Cork city area, in particular, and in other regions of the country there are sufficient social workers on hand to ensure that children do not have to spend unnecessary time in institutional care?
Certainly, I will review the situation. It is kept under constant review. To those who would say that there has been a diminution in the level of service in the area of community care, I might point out that in the Southern Health Board area in June 1987 there were 41 posts of social worker and in June 1988 there were 47. That is an increase of six. As I have stated in the answer, we approved another two social workers last December.
Could I put it to the Minister that the problem does not pertain solely to the Southern Health Board, but that the same lack of social workers exists in every health board area? There are three social workers, for instance, in the city of Waterford. I am very glad to hear that the Minister is reviewing the situation in the light of the imminent passage of the Child Care Bill. Will he give a commitment now to the House that financial resources will be available to increase considerably the number of social workers that will be needed to implement the proposals included in the Child Care Bill?
The question deals with the Southern Health Board area only.
To deal with Deputy Howlin's question, when the review is complete we will see what is necessary and in the light of that we will see what resources can be made available.
Will the Minister make available to the members of the House the assessment when it is completed, so that we will be able to review in future years the progress that has been made?
If from time to time Deputies wish to put down questions, we will certainly give them the information asked for. As I have pointed out to the Deputies — and I am sure before they came into the House they listened to so much about the run-down of community care services — they would hardly have believed that there has been an increase of eight in the number of posts in the Southern Health Board area alone.