Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2016
287. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Tusla social workers allocated to work with unaccompanied minors; the amount of funding required to increase this team by 20, 30 and 50 social workers; her plans to increase the capacity of this team; the timeframe for such an expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35518/16]
View answerThe information requested is not readily available in my Department. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to your written parliamentary question (35518/16 of 17 November 2016) requesting information in respect of the number of Tusla social workers allocated to work with unaccompanied minors; the amount of funding required to increase this team by 20, 30 and 50 social workers; plans to increase the capacity of this team and the timeframe for such an expansion.
As advised in my response on the 17 November, the information was being compiled by Tusla and was not available at that time. Tusla has since confirmed that the staffing allocation for the Unaccompanied Minors Asylum Seekers Team was 12.33 WTE in 2014; 12.79 WTE in 2015; and 12.82 WTE in 2016.
The costs associated with increasing the number of social work staff allocated to work with unaccompanied minors are set out in the table.
|
Number of extra Social Work Staff |
Associated cost |
|
20 |
€983,760 |
|
30 |
€1,475,640 |
|
40 |
€2,459,400 |
Tusla continues to have ambitious recruitment targets and expects to recruit an additional 663 whole time equivalent posts across a range of professional, para-professional and business support functions before the end of 2017 to meet critical concerns. In addition to social workers, it is important to recruit other grades such as family support staff and administrative support to ensure an efficient service with the appropriate mix of staffing.
Under Tusla’s Equity of Care principle, unaccompanied minors receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care thus ensuring that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.
I am eager to expand our ability to make a greater commitment to these most vulnerable of children and I am confident that the additional funding announced by this Department for Tusla in 2017 will allow the Agency to continue building an effective and responsive child protection and welfare system.
