Vol. 532 No. 2
69 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange urgent discussions with the Higher Education Authority to address the severe shortages of social workers and probation and welfare officers to significantly increase the intake into the relevant degree courses within the universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6954/01]
My Department has held discussions with the Department of Health and Children and the Higher Education Authority regarding the possibility of expanding the output of qualified social workers from the university system. These discussions have centred on the findings in the report of the National Social Work Qualifications Board of July 2000 which provides baseline information on social work posts in Ireland, based on a survey of the position as at 1 September 1999. The probation and welfare services account for 12% of the totality of social work posts. The survey found there were not enough qualified social workers available to fill posts and that an increase in the number of graduates from professional social work courses would be required to meet future demand.
The report outlines how any increase in training places is intrinsically linked to practice placement opportunities. Quality practice placements are at the core of social work training and constitute some 50% of course time. The report notes that there is a crisis in supply of practice placements due to a lack of formalised structures and resources. I understand that officials of the Department of Health and Children have been pursuing this issue in association with the National Social Work Qualifications Board.
Proposals for increasing intake into the relevant courses at University College Dublin, University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin have been developed by the universities and these proposals are currently under consideration.
