Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2017
669. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the recently published HIQA 2016 overview, the steps which have been taken to address the gaps in services for children being allocated a social worker; the number of children who remain unallocated to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21995/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of services to children being allocated a social worker, and in particular addressing the number of children who remain without an allocated social worker, is a high priority for me. I secured additional funding for this purpose in 2017. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is now in the second year of a 3-year plan to ensure the allocation of a social worker to all children and young people in need of one.
At the end of February 2017 (the latest data available), there was a total of 25,387 open child welfare and protection cases nationwide. An open case is one which is assessed as needing a dedicated (allocated) social work service. Of the 25,387 open cases, 77% (19,667) had an allocated social worker and 5,720 were waiting to be allocated a social worker. These cases are a mix of children in care or living with their families, whose social worker has left, either temporarily or permanently, and new cases.
The Deputy should note that all cases that are unallocated are closely monitored, supported and managed by the duty social work team under the supervision of the principal social worker.
It is a continuing priority of Tusla to address the problem of unallocated cases in 2017. Tusla currently has 1,480 WTE social workers and an end of 2017 target of 1,520 WTE. This target is short of the target set in Survival to Sustainability by approximately 100 WTE and reflects the constraints of the social work labour supply. Funding is in place to address the issue of unallocated cases, however, the recruitment environment for social workers is very challenging. Tusla is also focusing on intervening at an early stage of a family difficulty through social care and family supports. I have supported Tusla in the employment of additional social care workers and administrative staff to assist social workers in the course of their duties.
My Department will continue to closely monitor progress in this regard. I will continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and senior management team, over the coming weeks and months, to review progress.
