Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for this opportunity to follow up on a previous answer given to me by the Minister. Numerous times last year, the Minister assured the House that she was working towards recruiting 60 additional social workers in 2011. At the start of this year, she needed to admit to us that she had only recruited 14. These are the Minister's figures. We may argue the case, but the proof lies in one of the Minister's previous replies. She indicated that, as of February 2011, 94.5% of children in the State's care had assigned social workers but that the figure has since dropped to 92%. This is a reflection on the pressure in the system and on the fact that the State has failed in its commitment to follow the implementation plan of the Ryan report.

At the beginning of last year, there was an exemption to the recruitment embargo and each position that had become vacant was back-filled. The Minister should reinstate that exemption. Otherwise, the decline in the number of children in State care who have assigned social workers will continue.

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