Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her answer but I am not entirely reassured by it. The number of social care workers is being stretched to the limit. Ireland has relatively few child protection workers per head of population and in relation to the total number of children in care. Many of the reports carried out in this area have highlighted inadequate staffing. What is more is that HSE figures show demand for HSE children and family services is increasing for several reasons, not least the economic climate and the consequent increase in reporting and, in particular, putting the Children First guidelines on a statutory footing, which will create further increases. I believe the Minister has approved 60 new social care positions. Will she give a timescale as to when these promised new places will come on stream?

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