Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
933. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of social work posts below which the Health Service Executive risk analysis would deem the service to be unsafe. [12869/14]
View answerA total of 1,459 social work posts transferred from the HSE to the Child & Family Agency. The complement transferring was determined following a detailed census and re-classification process undertaken in the HSE during 2013 through which social workers were formally assigned to particular care groups, including child and families services.
A rigorous system of risk analysis is in place to ensure that staffing numbers do not fall to an unsafe level as vacancies arise. These vacancies are approved for filling as a priority with an emphasis being placed on needs assessment, a range of demographic factors and the levels of risk involved.
