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

I supplied those figures in reply to the earlier question. High priority does not constitute immediate risk.

I made that clear in response to the previous question also. Any child who is in immediate danger or at immediate risk is seen as an emergency and is seen immediately. That is the reality. As I read out in the response, the category of "high priority" also includes children who are in care in a stable placement but who have not yet been allocated a social worker. That is not an ideal situation and I do not by any means wish to imply that it is, but I wish to provide clarity to those who might be worried that there are children in this country who are in immediate danger, who have not been seen by a social worker because that is simply not the case. Anytime a child becomes a cause of immediate concern the problem is dealt with immediately as an emergency.

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