Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1683. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Tusla workers and the number of reports received in respect of concerns regarding the welfare of children by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41480/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, holds the statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, and is the appropriate body to receive relevant reports of concerns relating to children. Data on referrals are reported quarterly in arrears. At the end of Quarter 2, 2016, Tusla reported that approximately 59% of referrals received were of a child welfare concern with the remaining 41% relating to child protection concerns as detailed in the following table.
|
Year |
Child Welfare Referrals |
Child Protection Referrals |
Total Number of Referrals |
|
2015 |
25,361 (58%) |
18,235 (42%) |
43,596 |
|
2016 (end Q2) |
13,983 (59%) |
9,587 (41%) |
23,570 |
Tusla's policy is to refer child welfare referrals to relevant family and community support services. At any stage, if a determination is made that there is abuse, whether physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, from which there is an ongoing risk of significant harm, the child protection pathway is followed. The number of reports of child welfare and protection concerns received by Tusla, by administrative area, to the end of June 2016 is set out in the table below.
|
Combined Totals for Child Protection (Abuse) and Child Welfare Concern (Note: Data is reported quarterly in arrears) |
Outturn 2015 (Total) |
Quarter 1 2016 |
Quarter 2 2016 |
YTD 2016 (Total) |
|
Dublin Mid Leinster |
11,522 |
3,003 |
3,063 |
6,066 |
|
Dublin South Central |
1,753 |
495 |
403 |
898 |
|
Dublin South East Wicklow |
2,145 |
548 |
524 |
1,072 |
|
Dublin South West Kildare West Wicklow |
3,129 |
743 |
704 |
1,447 |
|
The Midlands |
4,495 |
1,217 |
1,432 |
2,649 |
|
Dublin North East |
9,619 |
2,584 |
3,029 |
5,613 |
|
Dublin City North |
2,457 |
686 |
788 |
1,474 |
|
Dublin North |
3,853 |
927 |
1,116 |
2,043 |
|
Louth Meath |
2,371 |
737 |
852 |
1,589 |
|
Cavan Monaghan |
938 |
234 |
273 |
507 |
|
South |
12,257 |
3,285 |
3,674 |
6,959 |
|
Cork |
5,160 |
1,431 |
1,604 |
3,035 |
|
Kerry |
997 |
300 |
294 |
594 |
|
Carlow Kilkenny South Tipperary |
2,638 |
567 |
694 |
1,261 |
|
Waterford Wexford |
3,462 |
987 |
1,082 |
2,069 |
|
West |
10,198 |
2,434 |
2,498 |
4,932 |
|
The Midwest |
4,079 |
1,039 |
1,021 |
2,060 |
|
Galway Roscommon |
3,179 |
759 |
901 |
1,660 |
|
Mayo |
884 |
212 |
164 |
376 |
|
Donegal |
1,007 |
252 |
191 |
443 |
|
Sligo Leitrim West Cavan |
1,049 |
172 |
221 |
393 |
|
National Total |
43,596 |
11,306 |
12,264 |
23,570 |
Tusla has advised that at the end of November 2016, there were a total of 3,573 (whole time equivalent) staff employed by Tusla broken down by grade as follows:
|
Staffing by Category |
% of Grade Group |
November 2016 |
|
Social work |
40.90% |
1,460.58 |
|
Social Care |
30.90% |
1,103.55 |
|
Psychology and Counselling |
0.60% |
22.62 |
|
Other Support Staff inc catering |
1.80% |
63.48 |
|
Other Health Professionals |
0.30% |
9.92 |
|
Nursing |
1.40% |
50.01 |
|
Management VIII+ |
3.00% |
106.43 |
|
Family Support |
4.60% |
162.99 |
|
Education and Welfare Officer |
2.30% |
83.78 |
|
Admin Grade III-VII |
14.30% |
509.63 |
|
Total Staffing |
100.00% |
3,573 WTE |
