Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the provision of social workers, on which Tusla is critically dependent in the carrying out of its function, and the allocation for 2015. In real terms, leaving the capital allocation aside, there is a 4.8% increase, but that is not enough.

On departures, of the 1,396 whole-time equivalent social work positions, leaving aside the 164 recruited during the course of the year - because Tusla has been in existence for only a year - some 1,232 are still in place. The 112 who left represent about 9%. It is a very high figure and one can make all sorts of international comparisons, but at the end of the day it is a very high departure rate. Deputy Troy made the point that only 20 were retirees. The other 92 left for other reasons, including burnout. I understand that; it is a very difficult job.

I refer to my question on the 219 posts which are at various stages of recruitment.

I understand if the Minister does not have the information with him. I was asking how soon any of these posts - preferably all of them - will be filled, adding to the number that are currently in service. That is the crucial thing. I am less concerned about whether he can answer in detail today, but I am anxious to try to impress on him and his colleagues that there is a huge job to be done in pressing for an increased allocation for his Department in order to properly address these issues.

I accept the point made by the Minister that we will not be able to avoid all of the tragic outcomes that have taken place. I accept that, but please, let us not have a situation in which it is at all arguable, by whomever would want to take that course, that such a tragedy was caused by a failure of the system to respond. That is what it comes down to. In my view, we have got to be able to respond in all cases where at all possible. My only concern is that we have sufficient properly trained social workers and a Child and Family Agency that is properly provided and resourced to carry out its function, so that we can minimise, if not eliminate, these terrible, tragic situations that create such anguish, pain and great upset across the whole community.