Results 3,681-3,700 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell
- Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)
Alan Farrell: The Bill, which is considered to be a Dáil Bill under Article 20.2.2° of the Constitution, will be sent to the Seanad.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Business of Joint Committee (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Apologies have been received from Senators Freeman and Noone.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Business of Joint Committee (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Okay. I will note that. I propose that we go into private session to deal with housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: I welcome members and viewers who may be watching proceedings on Oireachtas television to the public session of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss recruitment and retention of social workers. In the first session the committee will hear from representatives of the Irish Foster Care Association. In the second session...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: I thank Ms Bond. Her concluding line sums up the purpose of these committee hearings, which is to determine how we can get more social workers into the system and keep them there.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Are the consents that can be provided by a foster carer absolute? Is there a complete blanket ban on providing consents or can some small things be done at the minute?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Perhaps it might be useful for the members to be provided with a brief overview of the nature of the calls that might be received by that helpline from foster carers.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: I have two additional questions before I provide time to Deputy Mitchell. There are about 6,000 children in foster care in the State. Would the witnesses have any figures or any idea as to how we might compare with some of our near neighbours in terms of the prevalence of foster care as a support for children growing up in environments inappropriate to a successful upbringing, if there is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: What is Ms Bond's view on agency social workers within Tusla who might be working with foster families across the country? I think the Irish Foster Care Association represents 1,300 foster families, is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Does the Irish Foster Care Association see any practical difference?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Would the witnesses be aware of the numbers in this regard? If a child is referred to and reared by a foster family, how many social workers would the foster carer or child go through over the course of the fostering of that child? I am not sure of the length of the average stay, but let us say it is ten years. In the normal course of affairs how many times will the child and the family...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: It is problematic.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: My last question relates to the regional disparity in recruitment and retention that was referenced in the opening statement. There are some black spots, which Ms Bond mentioned when responding to Deputy Chambers. Of great concern to me is the area of Dublin's inner city. Have we seen a rise in the number of gaps in the system with children or foster families not being allocated a social...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: It certainly would be very beneficial to the whole system if that was to occur.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: I thank Senator Warfield. I thank the witnesses for coming before us this morning and for answering member's questions so fully. We will suspend for a few minutes to allow our next witnesses to take their seats.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: On behalf of the committee I welcome Ms Aine McGuirk, chairperson, and Mr. Joe McCarthy from the Irish Association of Social Workers, IASW. I thank the witnesses for making themselves available to us. I welcome the members again, as well as viewers who may be watching proceedings on Oireachtas television, to the public session of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: I thank Ms McGuirk for her opening statement. I will call Members in reverse order, if other Members are willing, and call Senator Warfield.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: Deputy Sherlock has indicated.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: The Deputy has asked many questions.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (27 Mar 2019)
Alan Farrell: I will let Deputy Neville in now. I can let Deputy Sherlock intervene later if he wishes.