Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What the Minister is after telling me is quite worrying because it leads me to believe that, in terms of the work YAP Ireland carries out, Galway is just the first to see these jobs cut. That is what it would indicate to me. If that is the decision we have made at a local level in Galway, it means that the other 22 centres nationwide will possibly be hit. Tusla would not have made that decision if it did not intend to roll out its community care alternatives scheme nationwide. It is also worrying that Tusla is not listening to the fact that we have a shortage of skilled workers and to the fact that it is very difficult to recruit into Tusla and that sort of organisation. Where are we going to find the staff? The Minister talked about the fact that YAP Ireland does not have enough professional staff, yet at the same time it was able to provide a 24 hour wrap-around service for those families and those children who were on its books at any time. It is unfortunate that communications at a local level within Tusla and YAP Ireland have fallen down. That is becoming very apparent.

See this speech in context