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

I have raised the issue of substandard and inadequate provision of care for minors with the Minister on many occasions, both in committees and in this Chamber. I have specifically highlighted issues pertaining to my constituency in Cork. The Minister has rightly agreed that the situation regarding lack of staff and social workers and the knock-on effects of lack of care, such as drugs paraphernalia being found in some homes, was hugely concerning.

The HIQA report released last month revealed even more shocking findings following a full inspection of services in the county in October of last year. The review of child protection and welfare services in County Cork by HIQA found that children were at significant risk as a result of failures by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. It is widely known that children in the county have been waiting years to be allocated a social worker. Some cases involve children with highly complex and acute needs. Will the Minister give an update on the increase in the number of social workers for minors in Cork since our last conversation about the issue? What progress has been made, particularly for those assessed as being at high risk?

The Minister had previously stated that there was a process of recruitment under way in the UK due to a shortage of staff in Ireland. Will the Minister give an update on the type of personnel recruited and how many have been placed? Is this recruitment drive serving its purpose?

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