Written answers
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Department of Health and Children
Child Protection
4:00 pm
Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children on waiting lists in the Dublin's north east inner city Dublin in need of immediate assessment and families unallocated to the social work service but identified as being in need of long term social work support; the criteria by which cases are being prioritised in view of the staffing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28363/08]
Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children at ongoing risk without social work support; and the number of families in need but without the necessary social work support. [28364/08]
Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to provide the necessary social work supports to children and families on waiting lists in view of the State's responsibility to protect children and families at risk. [28365/08]
Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the necessary budgets for social work and related child protection services are ring fenced within her Department's overall budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28366/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 122, inclusive, together.
The services and targets to be provided by the HSE in 2008 are set out in the National Service Plan which Minister Harney approved in November, 2007 and the Addendum to the Service Plan which Minister Harney approved in February, 2008. Both of these documents have been laid before this House and published. Budgets for social work and child protection services are provided by the Government as part of the vote for the Health Service Executive (HSE). The vote for the HSE does not provide for earmarking of funding as referred to in the Deputy's question. However the service plan for each year includes the specific commitments the HSE makes for services for each year.
In this context the Deputy's questions therefore all relate to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
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