Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012
18Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number and proportion of children in the care of the State without an assigned social worker in February 2011; the same figures in respect of today; her plans to improve these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33529/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present over 92% of children in care have an allocated social worker. In May 2012 there were 6,282 children in care compared to 6,015 children in care in February 2011. The figures reflect an increase over the period of 267 in the number of children in care, adding to the challenge for the HSE in ensuring that all children in care have an assigned social worker.
The allocation of a social worker is prioritised by the HSE to ensure children entering or about to leave the care system, those in a residential care placement or those experiencing a change of placement always have a social worker assigned to them. A principal social worker may decide to prioritise such cases over long term stable foster care placement where there is a temporary gap due, for example, to a social worker being unavailable because of extended leave or while a new appointment is awaited. In such situations there may already be a HSE link worker, who is also a professional social worker, supervising and supporting the foster carers and visiting the placement and the foster carers and the child should have information on who to contact should an urgent need arise.
Differences between care settings are evident from our data, with much higher proportions of children in residential care, including special care and high support, having assigned social workers. Over 97% of those in residential care have social workers assigned. In general, those children in residential care tend to have higher levels of need compared to others such as those in long term foster care. Addressing this issue is a priority for the HSE and progress has been made in recent months. Since the end of March 2012, the number of children in care without an assigned social worker has reduced from 507 to 476. This was over a period when the overall number of children in care increased by 46.
In May 2012, 476 children or 7.6% did not have an allocated social worker. In February 2011, 326 children or 5% did not have an allocated social worker.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
In both January 2011 and March 2011 the percentage of children in care without a social worker was 6.3%, while previously significantly higher numbers of children in care did not have social workers assigned. As recently as 2009, for example, some 17% of children in care did not have a social worker. Of the 476 children without assigned social workers in May, 458 were in foster care or foster care with relatives.
Notwithstanding the recent improvement and the more positive position in relation to residential care, efforts are required to bring about further improvements in this area. The HSE's 2012 national service plan identifies this as a priority deliverable. In this context the Government has made additional budgeting provision of €19m for child welfare and protection services compared to the funding made available last year. The funding will assist in addressing expenditure pressures from budgetary reductions made in previous years and growth and demand for services due to demographic and other factors. In overall terms, the 2012 provision is designed to support the HSE in meeting its obligations with regard to the welfare and protection of children under the Child Care Act 1991, together with a range of priorities set out in the HSE national service plan for 2012. As mentioned, these priorities include improvement in relation to a reduction in the numbers of children in care without an assigned social worker.
My Department will continue to work closely with the HSE to ensure that further progress is made over the remainder of the year in the key priorities set out in the national service plan.
I thank the Minister for her reply. I think she will agree that in light of the publication of the report of the child death review group in the past couple of weeks, the job of ensuring we provide the best possible protection to children who come into the care of the State is essential for the Government and one it must not shy away from. It must take the hard actions to achieve that. The report of the child death review group showed that many children were failed by the State and that, in many cases, the reason for that failure was the lack of resources and the pressure on our social workers to achieve goals and provide the care children required of them.
When the Minister came into office in February 2011, some 94.6% of children in State care had an assigned social worker. Having an assigned social worker is essential to ensure the child has a point of contact and someone from the State to look after him or her and to ensure he or she gets the service he or she requires. A year and a half later, the percentage has dropped to 92%. The Minister said the increase in the number of children in care has added to that. What has also added to that is the fact the Minister did not achieve her target of hiring an additional 60 social workers in 2011. In fact, the number hired was 14.
The exemption from the recruitment embargo, which existed when the Minister came into office, is no longer in place. Will she put that exemption from the embargo back in place and outline her plan of action to ensure each child in the care of the State has an assigned social worker?
Since March of this year, I am very pleased to say we have seen an increase in the number of children who have a social worker. The number is steadily going in the right direction. One can take any period of time and parse and analyse it but what we need to do is look at the overall situation. It is true that 2011 was a very difficult year for the HSE child and family services. It was faced with a €14 million cut in the Estimates for 2011 as a result of the last set of budgetary decisions taken by the Deputy's party when in office. As he will know, I got an increase of €21 million and one is beginning to see that come through in the increased allocation.
This is an important issue and it is extraordinary to think that as recently as 2009, some 17% of children in care did not have social worker. However, the number is going in the right direction with the vast majority - more than 90% - having a social worker. There is a legal obligation for children in care to have a social worker. We must ensure that figure increases as part of the overall reforms we need to implement, despite the pressures that exist. With the increased budgetary allocation and the recruitment of approximately 262 social workers that is under way, we are seeing more social workers in place. This is despite the recent changes and the numbers who retired in February last. That will all help.
There is a historic problem of the services not allocating a social worker. I agree with Deputy McConalogue with regard to the priority this area should be given and that we need to put child protection at the centre. All the reforms I am working on have as their goal the provision of a child protection service that delivers and truly protects children.
