Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I will.

There is a great need to replace the many social workers in the Eastern Health Board area who have either retired or left the profession through natural wastage. The lack of social workers is putting children at risk. When somebody makes a complaint that a child is at risk in its home, that child cannot be assessed for months and must continue to live in a dangerous environment. Despite everything we have heard about child abuse in the past week, we are continuing to allow children to be subjected to it because of the lack of social workers. This issue needs to be addressed by the appropriate Minister and I ask the Leader to ensure that it is.