Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister would probably agree that the need is still a lot greater than what the facility can provide due to a lack of resources. The Minister mentioned that the turnover in Ireland was impressive by comparison with European standards. I am not familiar with what they are at European level. I noted, however, that in January the HSE data showed that between 2010 and 2013, 326 social workers left their positions, which is a rate of one per week. Of these, 208 resigned. HSE data show that social workers are almost twice as likely to resign their position compared to managerial or administration staff in the HSE. Perhaps we should pay social workers more than we pay those in administration, given that they do not seem to be leaving administration jobs. We probably have too many of them in Ireland, yet we do not have enough front-line staff who are paid well enough. Would the Minister agree with that?

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