Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 February 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla

Mr. Pat Smyth:

We have to be very clear that there is not a straightforward conversion piece in the way the Deputy is talking about it, whereby we would effectively convert what is a private contract into a public service contract. To hire anybody into the organisation, we have to go through that recruitment process. Obviously, anyone who has worked in a job has an increased advantage due to experience and knowledge, so when it comes to interview they are in a good position.