Vol. 492 No. 4
226 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of child care workers based in the community throughout the eight health boards; if there is sufficient personnel to meet demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14356/98]
The management, organisation and provision of health services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards in association with the voluntary hospitals and voluntary agencies in the first instance. This necessarily involves the identification of staffing requirements and the deployment of staff within the overall financial and employment levels set by my Department. Each agency, on receipt of their annual level of financial determination and as part of their preparation of an annual service plan, makes decisions with regard to the staffing levels and the skills mix it requires to provide an agreed level of service within overall financial allocation. The issue of staffing needs is, therefore, a matter for each individual health agency, subject to the restrictions outlined above. It is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of each agency to identify manpower requirements and to direct staffing resources to areas of particular priority.
The most recent information in relation to staffing levels is the Health Service Personnel Census taken at 31 December 1996. Information in respect of 1997 is being compiled by my Department at present. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the precise format required. I assume that when the Deputy refers to child care workers, he is referring to social workers and house parents. It should be noted that while child care is an integral part of social work, not all of a social worker's time is necessarily taken with this aspect of their job. The number of social workers of all grades is 1,078.49 and house parents of all grades is 744.6. These figures are expressed in wholetime-equivalents and relate to persons employed in the public health service throughout the eight health board regions.
227 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the support services, if any, identified as necessary for child care and family support; the likely developments, if any, in relation to child care and family support services over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14357/98]
The services identified as necessary for child care and family support vary depending on the priority issues in each health board area. In general they include pre school services, parenting courses, community mothers programme, family and adolescent resource centres, work with families experiencing difficulties, child psychiatric and psychology services, support for foster care groups, residential care, neighbourhood youth projects, youth homeless support services and support for and co-operation with relevant voluntary and community organisations who provide child care and family support services. Additional funding of £8 million was provided in 1998 for the development of child care services. The service plans prepared by the health boards outline a range of child care and family support initiatives. I hope to obtain additional funding in 1999 for the continued expansion of these important services.
