Results 3,961-3,980 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: I thank Mr. Smyth for his opening statement. I call Deputy Sherlock.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: I have a number of questions I would like to address. Mr. Smyth referred to retrospective abuse cases. How many people does Tusla have working on such cases or liaising with statutory inquiries with An Garda Síochána and other agencies? How many retrospective abuse cases is Tusla currently handling?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Yes, of course.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Did Mr. Gibson say it is devoid of good legislation?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: I am sorry to interrupt. Is Mr. Gibson referring to the inability to independently enforce-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: I was of the view, though perhaps I am mistaken, that was being addressed by way of primary legislation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Has Mr. Gibson been informed through that process, or through that body, that there will be a change in that area or is it still languishing in the Department?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Would it be possible for the witnesses from Tusla to forward that viewpoint to the committee? That would be helpful to us.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: I apologise, I interrupted Mr. Gibson.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: What was that percentage?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Is that sort of figure replicated nationwide to the best of Mr. Gibson's knowledge?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: What are the numbers of personnel assigned to the function of facilitating the investigation of historic or retrospective abuse cases? How many social care workers, for example, are involved in that process?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Are they engaged in any other work while they are doing that retrospective work?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: In response to Deputy Neville, Mr. Smyth referred to the approximately 500 agency staff employed by the agency and its total staff complement nationwide. He also stated that Tusla has the capacity to hire an additional 400 staff. If Tusla has that capacity, has it considered providing - or does it provide - additional supports by way of administrative staff to assist people, especially...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: My second question was around administrators but I think Mr. Smyth touched upon that. There was also a question about apprenticeships.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Going back to the figures that have been provided, there are 1,500 social workers and Tusla is operating at approximately 50% capacity. It has 100 out at any given time at the moment. Based on its 65% retention of qualified social workers, of the 200 qualifying per annum, we are looking at 19 years to get to 100% based on today's requirements, whatever about what we might need in 20 years....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Is it reasonable to make that assessment?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: The pay grades and public sector pay agreements have been mentioned, as have allowances. If a person is burning out due to being overworked, are the pay grades sufficient to retain these individuals? This is not a criticism of the organisation, the State or the individual, it is a reflection of reality. As Deputy Neville has said, these people do extraordinary work, as I know from my...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: That would be welcome. In regard to foster care and adoption, how often in the first year is it appropriate for a social worker to visit a foster care or adoptive family?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Tusla (13 Feb 2019)
Alan Farrell: Unfortunately, that was not always the case.