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

I thank the Deputy. She referred to the Laois-Offaly report. As the Deputy is aware, these are very complicated matters. I would be happy to share a table which identifies the number of open, unallocated and high priority retrospective cases for 2017. The number of unallocated retrospective cases is decreasing, although the number increased between June and July. In addition, the figure for another category, the referrals which are being received each month, has increased significantly. The figure was 93 in January, 122 in February and 139 in March. Referrals are increasing.

The number of unallocated retrospective cases decreased, although referrals are continuing to come in. It is important to note that while the number of referrals is increasing there are many months in which the number of unallocated cases is decreasing. Cases are being assigned.

The most important point to note in the table is that cases which were initially assessed as high priority, that is, where there is a suspicion of risk to a child, comprised 177 in January, 160 in February and 120 in March. From that point on, there were none. Tusla is addressing cases and allocating them where a high priority has been assessed.

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