Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

At present over 92% of children in care have an allocated social worker. In May 2012 there were 6,282 children in care compared to 6,015 children in care in February 2011. The figures reflect an increase over the period of 267 in the number of children in care, adding to the challenge for the HSE in ensuring that all children in care have an assigned social worker.

The allocation of a social worker is prioritised by the HSE to ensure children entering or about to leave the care system, those in a residential care placement or those experiencing a change of placement always have a social worker assigned to them. A principal social worker may decide to prioritise such cases over long term stable foster care placement where there is a temporary gap due, for example, to a social worker being unavailable because of extended leave or while a new appointment is awaited. In such situations there may already be a HSE link worker, who is also a professional social worker, supervising and supporting the foster carers and visiting the placement and the foster carers and the child should have information on who to contact should an urgent need arise.

Differences between care settings are evident from our data, with much higher proportions of children in residential care, including special care and high support, having assigned social workers. Over 97% of those in residential care have social workers assigned. In general, those children in residential care tend to have higher levels of need compared to others such as those in long term foster care. Addressing this issue is a priority for the HSE and progress has been made in recent months. Since the end of March 2012, the number of children in care without an assigned social worker has reduced from 507 to 476. This was over a period when the overall number of children in care increased by 46.

In May 2012, 476 children or 7.6% did not have an allocated social worker. In February 2011, 326 children or 5% did not have an allocated social worker.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

In both January 2011 and March 2011 the percentage of children in care without a social worker was 6.3%, while previously significantly higher numbers of children in care did not have social workers assigned. As recently as 2009, for example, some 17% of children in care did not have a social worker. Of the 476 children without assigned social workers in May, 458 were in foster care or foster care with relatives.

Notwithstanding the recent improvement and the more positive position in relation to residential care, efforts are required to bring about further improvements in this area. The HSE's 2012 national service plan identifies this as a priority deliverable. In this context the Government has made additional budgeting provision of €19m for child welfare and protection services compared to the funding made available last year. The funding will assist in addressing expenditure pressures from budgetary reductions made in previous years and growth and demand for services due to demographic and other factors. In overall terms, the 2012 provision is designed to support the HSE in meeting its obligations with regard to the welfare and protection of children under the Child Care Act 1991, together with a range of priorities set out in the HSE national service plan for 2012. As mentioned, these priorities include improvement in relation to a reduction in the numbers of children in care without an assigned social worker.

My Department will continue to work closely with the HSE to ensure that further progress is made over the remainder of the year in the key priorities set out in the national service plan.

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