Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has described it as "disappointing". I would go further and say it is totally unacceptable. We have a serious issue in the region with regard to Tusla and its attitude. Part of the reason for the high staff turnover is the very defensive culture in the agency, which does not lend itself to people wanting to work there. On numerous occasions, I have tried to get answers from Tusla but have ended up having to send the correspondence to the Minister to get an answer.

On one occasion, Tusla sent me a letter to say that I had sent correspondence to the wrong address when I have been dealing with the same Tusla office in Kilkenny since before I can remember. That is the sort of attitude one is dealing with and that leads to children not having adequate supports and help. It is shocking. The focus should be on the needs of the child and one in five children in that region is without a social worker. The situation was described as chaotic and there is not much aftercare support. We heard there was extra money for this sector in the budget, so my specific question is how many social workers, aftercare workers and administrative workers will be recruited in this area?

See this speech in context