Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her view on the findings of the national review of child protection and welfare services that health authorities are failing some of the most vulnerable children in the State, that health authorities are not able to respond adequately to hundreds of cases of children at risk of abuse or neglect due to staff shortages and the under-resourcing of social work teams; the action she will take to ensure that children receive rapid intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16344/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The review to which the Deputy refers is part of an extensive regulatory regime which ensures effective governance of services for vulnerable children and families. Under Section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991 the HSE is required to produce, on an annual basis, a report on the adequacy of the child care and family support services. The purpose of the review was to identify services where changes or improvements could be made. In that respect it is an important part of the planning process. Moreover it does not provide a full and comprehensive picture of child welfare and protection services and it would be wrong, therefore, to take this review in isolation to represent the HSE's current services.The HSE have informed me that:

in all cases where there is a serious and immediate risk to the health or welfare of the child, the HSE responds immediately and takes appropriate action;

all child abuse reports to social work departments are subject to a phased process of initial screening and assessment and appropriate interventions are provided;

child care and family support services provided by the HSE are subject to a rigorous regime of inspection and monitoring by monitoring officers and by HIQA — Social Services Inspectorate.

There has been significant investment in child welfare and protection services in recent years. The HSE have also informed me that the resources allocated to child care and family support services have increased considerably in recent years with an additional 335 social work posts created since 2005 and an increase of nearly 80% in funding of family support services since 2003 (from €45.7m to €81.8m in 2008).

This reflects the commitment of the HSE to the on-going implementation of the 'National Children's Strategy' and most recently the 'Agenda for Children's Services'.