Results 181-200 of 3,737 for speaker:Cormac Devlin

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: How many children are in separated care, effectively those who are unaccompanied minors?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: What is the difference between section 5 versus those who are in care? What is section 5 care?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Could I just ask-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: The oversight and vetting of unaccompanied minors and the 5,600 children in Tusla's care seems a bit removed from the agency's role. It is charged with protecting these vulnerable children but it simply relies on outside agencies for Garda vetting. Ms Duggan said Tusla just requests Garda vetting. Of course it is in those agencies' interests to ensure that they are completely compliant but...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: How frequent is that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Is advance notice given of the inspections?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: I am sorry but I have limited time. Does Ms Duggan have the breakdown of how many spot checks are done per annum?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Yes, please.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Does Ms Duggan not have it here today?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: I thank Ms Duggan for that reply. I want to move on to social workers. I acknowledge what she said about vacancies and the unfortunate decrease in staff numbers. There is a challenge across the public sector attracting staff. Tusla seems to have a problem retaining staff, in particular in this field. I have no doubt that some of the cases that individuals in Tusla deal with are very...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: I thank Ms Mannion for that response. Effectively, Tusla is standing still in terms of the number of social workers for 2023. Could she detail the training and supports available to existing social workers? I have heard reports of a high level of burnout and stress. Given the reduction in the number of social workers the work is obviously falling on other people's shoulders. More...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: When did that programme start?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Specifically in terms of oversight, how are notes and information on people's files monitored?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Is that being done?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: According to the annual report, a number of complaints were received, which is not unusual for any organisation. Poor communication was at 3% in 2020 and nearly 5% in 2021 but then it jumped to 10% in 2023. What was the reason behind that? Why was there a huge increase in complaints about poor communication? Is that poor communication with the individuals who are in the care of Tusla?...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Mr. Smyth will recall that I raised poor communication when Tusla was last before us. That is something as simple as a business card for social workers with contact details that means a person can actually get in touch with them. I say that from experience on behalf of constituents who find it extremely difficult to make contact, between social work staff who have left, no one being readily...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Are they on a card?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Tusla still does not have business cards.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: Why is that? This is an issue I raised previously. At the time I was told that it would be examined. That was 13 months ago, and now Ms Duggan is telling me that it is still not there. She must appreciate the situation from the perspective of the public who are dealing with the agency. Social workers can have a huge impact on their lives, yet they cannot be contacted. I find it...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Tusla-Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Cormac Devlin: It was 13 months ago.