James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the opening lines of my reply to the question, I confirmed the numbers for the Deputy. Measuring the pressure, which is done quarterly, there is a 48.6% drop in the number of children in the high priority category who are awaiting allocation to a social worker for less than three months from 2,046 in quarter 4, 2013, to 1,051 in quarter 4, 2014. We are making progress but we must make more. We are endeavouring to ensure that all children receive an appropriate service. Referrals have reduced as a consequence of better, more coherent co-operation between various people in the team who talk to each other.

The easiest way to describe it would be to put it in medical language. A GP who might want to refer a patient because he is unsure of a problem discusses that problem on the telephone with a consultant and realises he can deal with it himself. A similar type of approach has been adopted here. This has reduced anxiety for families and the necessity for social workers to become involved where it is not appropriate. There are still too many children awaiting a social worker. We are working and endeavouring to make sure that this is addressed through a whole range of initiatives which we have taken.

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