Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

31 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to comments made at the annual conference of the Irish Association of Social Workers in Kilkenny that child protection services in Dublin were close to collapse; the steps, if any, he will take to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14137/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

I understand that the Deputy is referring to comments made at the recent Irish Association of Social Workers conference quoting figures of 2,400 children on a waiting list for child care social work services in the Eastern Health Board area.

The position is that the board carried out a comprehensive review of waiting lists recently which showed that at 31 December 1997 there were 1,121 cases on the waiting list of which 379 related to child abuse. The board has experienced a 78 per cent increase in referrals of suspected child abuse since 1992. Because of the large volume of suspected cases of child abuse a system of prioritisation is applied. Following immediate initial assessment a decision is made to place some referrals on a waiting list. However, children who are in immediate need of protection will receive an immediate response.

The board has also engaged in a number of strategic initiatives including the preparation of procedural guidelines and manuals on assessment procedures, definition of case priorities, estimating need and determining closure procedures in relation to which children and families are eligible for and should be prioritised for welfare services.

I am of course committed to designing services which meet the needs of "at risk" young people and their families with an emphasis on prevention. I am pleased to have approval for the establishment of pilot projects in areas of social disadvantage which will support multi-problem families and target children at risk.