Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Yes. We will not pull this from both ends like a Christmas cracker. I would appreciate if the Minister reverted back to us with clarification as soon as possible, not just for myself but for my colleague Deputies who are directly interested in this. It is very important. The core point of this and previous questions on this issue is a concern about the number of social workers, particularly when they are needed more than at any time in our political experience. I am deeply concerned. As a Deputy at the coalface people are presenting as never before, not even during the worst times of the 1980s. Today there is a huge rise in the real need and social workers have a crucial role to play in that. I am deeply concerned that we are not in a position to respond properly to the problems.

There is a high number of retirements. I hear the Minister for Health respond that they are in a certain age cohort but the fact is that they are not being replaced. These are positions lost. They represent hands and heads that are no longer within the service. How will this impact on the establishment of the new family support agency? One would expect there would be increased provision, commensurate with the work and undertaking of that agency. Are there any plans or contingency plans for coping as we move towards the establishment of that new body?

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