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. Cormac Quinlan:

There are regulations that require us to visit at particular times. In the first year, there is a high level of engagement and then it drops to a lower level. Engagement is higher than is required by the regulations, particularly in terms of fostering placements. It depends on the nature of the situation. If a foster placement is settled and stable, the minimum requirements will maintain that placement but where a placement is struggling, the level of engagement would be much higher. As I said, it depends on the nature and circumstances of the placement. I would say that our visits exceed what regulation requires of us.