Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have the greatest respect for the experience from which the Deputy asks this question. I recall her referring to the issue in earlier exchanges. Currently there is no evidence to suggest that social workers apply for care orders rather than supervision orders because care orders are less time consuming. I acknowledge that the Deputy has a suspicion or an intuition in that regard but there is currently no evidence to that end. The application to the courts for a care order is an intensive procedure involving the holding of a multidisciplinary case conference, the preparation of legal applications, the development of a care plan and finding a suitable placement, with arrangement and facilitation of family access. When in care, the child continues to have an allocated social worker with regular care planning reviews.

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