Vol. 420 No. 6
120 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the number of social workers on call each night and at weekends in the Southern Health Board area; the location from which they are on call; and if he proposes to make further resources available to increase the number.
While there is not at present a formal after-hours social worker service in operation in the Southern Health Board area, the board's social workers can be contacted after office hours and at weekends to deal with emergencies. The question of establishing a formal 24 hour service is currently being considered by the health board in the light of the enactment of the Child Care Act, 1991. Any proposal from the health board for funding for such a service will be considered in the context of the £2 million set aside in this year's budget for new developments in Child Care.
