Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
370. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases relating to children in care for which a social worker has yet to be allocated, per region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12746/17]
View answerThe most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,258 children in care at the end of December 2016, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 93% were in foster care nationally. Tusla has indicated that there were 453 children in care awaiting the allocation of a social worker at the end of 2016. The following table shows the breakdown by region at the end of December 2016.
|
Region |
Children with an allocated Social worker |
Children awaiting an allocated Social worker |
|
Dublin Mid Leinster |
1,419 |
88 |
|
Dublin North East |
1,366 |
119 |
|
South |
1,723 |
80 |
|
West |
1,297 |
166 |
|
Total |
5,805 |
453 |
It is a key priority for me to address the number of children who are without an allocated social worker. I secured additional funding for this purpose in 2017, and Tusla is now in the second year of a 3-year plan to ensure that a social worker is allocated to all children and young people who need one. It is important to emphasise that, as Tusla's 3-year plan to address unallocated cases continues, all urgent cases are dealt with immediately and do not simply go on a waiting list. I will continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and senior management team, over the course of the year, to review progress.
