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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - Community Care Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

182 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of the number of social workers available in County Kildare; if he proposes to increase the numbers in line with current requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25810/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

183 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of community care services with particular reference to the need for the provision of sufficient social workers to meet demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25811/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.

The "adequacy of community care services with particular reference to the need for the provision of sufficient social workers to meet current demands" is being interpreted to mean the adequacy of social work services in the child care and family support area.
I am aware of the difficulties in relation to the recruitment and the retention of qualified and experienced social work staff and the increasing workload for existing staff in this area. Developments currently under way both at national level and at individual health board level will, I believe, help to address these issues. These developments will result in additional services being made available, significant improvements in working conditions for staff and a resulting improvement in services for children.
At national level, the report of the expert group on various health professions, published in April 2000, made recommendations on a range of personnel issues for social workers. The implementation process is ongoing and, in tandem with this process, a national social work forum has been established to progress a number of key issues of concern for social workers, including those arising from the recommendations of the expert group. These include the introduction of a new grade of senior social work practitioner, the upgrading of single handed and certain other specialised posts, a workload management study and the facilitation of a planned personal and management development programme for the social worker profession. These measures should contribute to greater job satisfaction and the consequent better retention of personnel.
In addition, following the publication in June 2000 of the report by the National Social Work Qualifications Board, Social Work Posts in Ireland, discussions have been ongoing between officials of my Department, the Department of Education and Science, and the Higher Education Authority regarding the provision of additional training places for social workers. A considerable expansion in provision has been agreed, with an extra 35 places being provided for in the current academic year and a further 50 places planned for the following academic year, to bring the total number of places available to some 194 with effect from the 2002-03 academic year. The National Social Work Qualifications Board is currently undertaking a follow-up survey of the position pertaining at 1 September 2001.
Particular recruitment difficulties arise in the area health boards in the eastern region for city centre areas, areas of high deprivation and those areas bordering other health board areas to which staff will be attracted to vacancies. The costs and availability of accommodation in the eastern region are also a factor.
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