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

In the context of the previous question, if a social worker is allocated and if there is consistency in an individual's case, that person is less likely to fall into the trap of potentially being exploited. I know we all agree with that statement but we really need to work towards that. I welcome any sort of imaginative initiatives that we can do, particularly the apprenticeship route. Is that just being looked at or is that possibly something that will happen? Is there any timeframe? The Irish Association of Social Workers, IASW, report on staffing and retention contains a range of really good proposals. The Minister will be aware of that report. It is possible that the committee of which I am Chair sent it to him. It would be good to look at that report and some of the suggestions it contains, because the members of the IASW obviously work in that environment every day and know a huge amount about it. I want to make the point again about having consistency in cases for children who are in care is a much better outcome for everybody involved.

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