Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree that Tusla needs to do some more work on highlighting the good work it does. I have had cause to interact with its social workers, the children and young people's services committee, CYPSC, co-ordinator and the agency. There is a lot of fantastic stuff happening on the ground. There is a breastfeeding policy on the cards in County Mayo, and there is greater work around mental health with children and young people and on the impact of domestic violence in the home on children. Great work is happening but it is often not adequately publicised. It would be fantastic to see Mr. Gloster as CEO and the umbrella organisation assisting the local organisations to get the word out about the work they do and the supports that are available to families. I am sure he will endeavour to do so.

On social work, there is clearly not enough people coming through the system. As the new CEO, what are Mr. Gloster's plans to increase the numbers coming through and what are his plans regarding increased retention? If the organisation is losing people at one end, taking in new recruits means it is only treading water rather than increasing staffing numbers. In the past, when Tusla was before the committee, I suggested that more administrative staff should be provided to social workers. We have trained, qualified social workers who are sitting at their desks for long periods typing up documents and minutes and doing administrative work that could be done by somebody else. Social workers in various teams have asked for this. but it has not happened. It seems like low-hanging fruit and an easy thing to do in the interim, while numbers in social care and social work are low, to give them administrative staff to free up their time to do social work. What does Mr. Gloster think about that?

Is it the case that a children and young persons services committee is operating in every district or region with someone assigned to every region? What are the plans for those committees and how might they work? CYPSC seems like a good solution to toward engaging the different agencies, including An Garda Síochána and the HSE, linking them together and getting them working better together in the area of children, as they all have a role to play. What are Mr. Gloster's plans for that?