Dáil debates

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Other Questions

Child Care Services Provision

3:45 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans for addressing the current shortage of social workers for children in care. [2125/15]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister indicate what percentage of children in care have a written care plan? Following on from the issues Deputy Troy raised, is it not about resources? Before Christmas when the Minister launched the Know Your Rights guide, he gave the commitment that every child in care would have a social worker. He has not delivered on that. Is that not the problem?

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Child and Family Agency publishes monthly statistics on its website which include statistics for children in care. They show the majority of children in care have an allocated social worker. Latest figures for October 2014 show that 93% of children in care had an allocated worker, 5,982 of 6,454. I am pleased to report there are several areas where all children in care have an allocated social worker including Carlow, Kilkenny, south Tipperary, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Kerry. However, some areas need to do better as the statistics also showed that 78% of children in care in Dublin south west, Kildare west, Wicklow had an allocated social worker. The fact this was an improvement on 75% quoted in the monthly report for September means the agency is working to address shortfalls in this area.

It is a statutory requirement that all children in care have an allocated social worker. I must stress, however, that if a child in care does not have an allocated social worker, it does not mean there is no oversight from social work professionals. These cases are reviewed regularly by the principal social worker and are often managed by duty social work teams while waiting for a social worker to be allocated.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

A rigorous system of risk analysis is in place in each area to ensure that staffing numbers do not fall to an unsafe level. The gaps that are identified through this process are addressed with the additional resources of temporary staff as required. The vacancies that are then identified are the subject of a recruitment process to ensure they are filled at the earliest opportunity.

I am advised that the fact that 93% of children in care in Ireland are in foster care, 6,001 of 6,454, compares very favourably internationally. Social work support is also provided for foster carers in the form of a link worker. The link worker is a professionally qualified social worker and meets regularly with foster carers to provide training, information and whatever other support that may be required. The very small number of children in residential care, 316 of 6,454, are also supported by residential care staff and other staff who provide specialist services as needed.

Additionally, my Department is overseeing an ongoing programme of recruitment of social workers. Since establishment 12 months ago, the agency has recruited 155 social workers and a further 193 are at various stages of recruitment. This will help the agency to meet its statutory obligation to ensure that all children in care have an allocated social worker.