Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:1. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to discuss the inadequate central referral system used by social worker services and the absence of a central ICT system. [23513/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 21 July 2016
Ceisteanna (1)
Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)
Will the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs discuss the inadequate central referral system? I am looking for some answers regarding the fact that there is no centralised reporting system for child welfare. Where are we with regard to the introduction of a central ICT system?
I agree that ICT is critical to providing effective social work services for vulnerable children and families. Since its establishment in 2014, Tusla has been engaged in an extensive programme of reform which includes the ongoing development of an ICT system to support social workers in their work.
Currently, each of the 17 Tusla administrative areas has its own referral system. I want Tusla to move to the planned national child care information system, which will provide centralised referrals and ensure every social work department has a user-friendly technology solution to record the case history of every child who is the subject of a child protection or welfare concern.
This will apply from the point of initial referral to case closure. The system will also have the capacity to facilitate the integration and sharing of information on child protection and welfare cases between Tusla areas. The capital provision available to Tusla in 2016 includes full provision for the 2016 costs associated with the continued roll-out of the national child care information system. The total expenditure on it is estimated at €1.8 million. The system has already been piloted in Tusla’s mid-west region - north Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. Tusla intends to roll out the system nationally over the coming year and I will continue to support it as a key priority.
In light of the report that has come out this morning from the Health Information and Quality Authority on the midlands region, it was significant to discover there are significant risks in the use of information. This goes back to the kernel of my question. I also find it alarming that in 2014 and 2015 there was an underspend in the capital budget. Hearing the amount from the Minister, I find it disappointing. With the current capital funding, is the Minister making a commitment to see ICT rolled out in its entirety by the end of the year or early next year?
On the Deputy's first point on the HIQA review in the midlands area, I am aware of it. I am concerned about some of the key issues that were identified. There were some improvements demonstrated in that review but particularly in ICT systems which is the subject of the Deputy's question. An ICT system has been developed in that particular area to track all cases within child protection and welfare services. Necessary ICT equipment has been provided to all the staff but these are temporary measures until the roll-out of the national child care information system.
On the Deputy's question on resources and money spent, I agree this is a critical issue. The money is there and Tusla is going to spend it: by next August all 17 areas will have the initial roll out. There still needs to be some tweaking done but I am told it will be fully operational by 2018.
I welcome the commitment and the timeframe of August 2017. I am sure all the social care workers involved in Tusla will also welcome it.