Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
482. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of adequate resources to meet the growing challenges in terms of youth support services, social services, investigative programmes and rapid response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56252/23]
View answerReferral rates to Tusla continue to increase year on year. This can be considered to be a result of increased awareness of child protection and Children First legislation and guidance within society and some changes to the reporting processes. However, it is important to note that once a referral is received by Tusla the first consideration for social work teams is the immediate safety of the child and whether protective action is required. All reports to Tusla are normally reviewed (screened) on the day they are received. Tusla has restructured its front door duty teams into separate screening intake teams for referrals and also separate intake and initial assessment teams and also separate child protection and welfare pillars.
However, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that the Agency is facing. Ireland is now accommodating over 90,000 persons fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and International Protection applicants, resulting in significant pressure on State services including Tusla. This is resulting in challenges in providing sufficient suitable placements for children in care, and I am aware of the concern of members and other stakeholders in this regard, and specifically in relation to ‘Special Emergency Arrangements.’ The presentations of children entering care are also of increasing complexity. As at the 7th December 2023 there were 316 children from other countries seeking international protection in the State, of these 29 are in foster care, 26 are in supported lodgings, 61 are in residential settings and 200 are in special emergency accommodation.
I acknowledge the current level of social work vacancies in Tusla and the challenges in recruiting sufficient numbers of social workers into Tusla. The critical importance of children in care and children in need of child welfare and protection services being allocated a social worker are acknowledged by myself as Minister and the Department.
My Department has issued as part of its Performance Framework for 2024-2026 to Tusla a list of priorities for Tusla including the retention of social workers. This includes a number of actions for Tusla to improve the recruitment and retention of social workers, including engagement with Higher Education Institutions, focused recruitment on areas with highest and complex needs, monitoring recruitment activities and continuing to reduce the reliance on agency staffing, and various measures around enhancing Tusla as an employer of choice. My Department looks forward to further engagement on this issue as part of the Corporate Plan to reflect the policy guidance, direction and prioritisation parameters contained in the Minister’s framework, which will include the priority on addressing the retention of social workers.
Investigative procedures are a matter for An Garda Síochána whereas Tusla assess the circumstances of children within families and any potential risk arising for children.
