Nora Owen
Question:155 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in assessing prospective foster parents by the Eastern Health Board and the action, if any, he plans to deal with the backlog. [5913/98]
Written Answers. - Fostering Assessments.
The Deputy will appreciate that the greatest percentage of social work time in the Eastern Health Board is taken up with child protection duties and the investigation of child abuse. This can lead to a backlog of work in other areas.
I understand from the Eastern Health Board that there are currently some 32 social workers exclusively engaged in fostering work across the ten community care areas. In addition, there are five posts in the centrally based fostering resource group and two posts in the crisis intervention service dealing with emergency carer families.
Not every community care area experiences delays in conducting fostering assessments and the Eastern Health Board is currently examining its procedures with a view to achieving a more corporate approach to fostering assessment which will minimise the waiting period.
Arising from discussions with my Department concerning delays in conductng fostering assessments, I approved additional funding of £100,000 to the Eastern Health Board to assist in tackling the backlog of fostering assessments.