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

I believe it is working up to a certain point. Clearly, we are not receiving the number of social workers that we require. I have tried to indicate that the number leaving represents a retention issue. We are doing pretty well in that regard by comparison with other jurisdictions but we need to recruit more. Tusla is engaged on the matter.

With my encouragement and the support of my officials, Tusla is also engaged in the development of a new strategic plan not only to take a look at how many social workers are needed but how to add an appropriate mix of social care workers and administrative workers as well. The idea is to take some of the work social workers are doing that may not need the experience of a social worker and reassign it to ensure they have more time to do what they need to do.

Deputy Mitchell raised a second set of questions. I am assured that even though there may be cases involving a child or family which are unallocated, this does not mean a social worker or social work team is not responsible for ensuring they are checked in on until an allocated social worker is assigned specifically to the family in question. On the question of whether any of those children are not at risk, I am absolutely assured.

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