Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
485. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he has sufficient resources available to his Department to meet the anticipated demands of children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56255/23]
View answerThe 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 will issue as part of its Performance Framework for 2024-2026 to Tusla by the end of September 2023 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.
