Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A substantial amount of funding under the Vote specifically relates to Tusla. This time last year, much of the discussion related to Tusla's efforts to deal with the number of unallocated cases and also to ensure that all children would be provided with aftercare plans on the commencement of the legislation.

Towards the end of last year, Tusla indicated that it was aiming to increase the number of social workers by between 150 and 200 as compared with the previous 16 months. Is it roughly on target to meet that objective? How many social workers in excess of this number will be required over the next 12 months? Will the Minister comment on how far the recruitment of these additional social workers will go towards addressing the unallocated cases in accordance with Tusla's main priorities?

I will comment briefly on capital expenditure, which has been increased under a number of heads. There will be increased demand for child care services and, consequently, a need for community facilities, many of which are directly funded through Tusla. Will increased funding be provided this year and in the coming years to develop community child care facilities in locations and settings other than those set out in programme C?