Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in care who currently do not have a written care plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27427/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. However, the HSE service plan for 2010 cites a projected 2009 outturn of 85% for the percentage of children in care who had a written care plan as defined by child care regulations 1995.

The Implementation Plan for the recommendations of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was accepted by Government and published in July 2009. One of the key recommendations of the Implementation Plan is that an additional 270 additional social workers be recruited by the HSE between 2009 and 2011 in order that the HSE can fulfil its care planning and other statutory obligations to children in care. This is made possible as the approved Employment Control Framework for the HSE exempts social worker posts from the current moratorium on recruitment and the filling of vacancies. An amount of some €14m has been provided to the HSE in the current year to progress the implementation of the recommendations of the Ryan Commission.