Vol. 532 No. 2
133 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking to address the serious skills shortage among child care workers and care staff; the additional third-level places that have been provided since the start of the academic year in 1997 to offset these shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6947/01]
I am aware of the current difficulties in the recruitment and retention of child care workers in the health service. This title encompasses the grades of house parent, assistant house parent and trainee house parent.
The expert group's report on various health professions, published in April 2000, recommended that child care workers be accorded formal professional status and that the recruitment of non-qualified staff must eventually cease. It also recommended the establishment of a joint committee to deal with issues arising from the recognition of the autonomy of the profession, including: the setting up of a proper career structure for both residential and community care workers; the changes required in general management of a child and family services, and in the case of management arising as a consequence; the management of changes arising from the ending of recruitment of non-qualified child care workers; a complete review of the training available to child care workers, with a view to the introduction of a nationally recognised professional qualification and the provision of regular in-service training; and the arrangements for training of unqualified staff to an accepted standard.
