Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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328. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action he has taken to address the fact that thousands of cases concerning children at risk have not yet been allocated a social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37093/14]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action he has taken following comments by the Ombudsman for Children that safe social work is not possible in some parts of the country due to the size of the caseloads facing individual social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37094/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together.

A report prepared by the Child and Family Agency – "Measuring the Pressure" - indicates that at the end of June 2014, the Agency was providing 19,766 children with a social work service. The Report also highlights the increasing service challenge facing the Agency, with 9,548 cases waiting to be allocated to a dedicated social worker.

Approximately one third of these, (3,240 cases), were deemed to be high priority. These cases represent a mix of new referrals that need further assessment and social work input, as well as children known to the Agency who need a continuing social work service. I am assured by the Agency that emergency cases are dealt with immediately and that high priority cases are kept under review. We must ensure that the most vulnerable children in our society receive a timely and appropriate response.

Currently, 94% of children in care have an allocated Social Worker.

The data and analysis contained in "Measuring the Pressure" provides critical management information to assist the Agency in service planning and resource allocation.

The Agency is in receipt of funding of €6.7m this year to alleviate identified service pressures and to support the continuing implementation of the reform programme across children and family services.

This funding is being targeted at a number of areas, including the replacement of staff on maternity leave by way of a 12 month temporary contract. Latest figures indicate that at the end of August, 164 staff were on maternity leave, 82 of whom were social workers. The Agency is also finalising proposals for the introduction of a guaranteed and protected one year induction programme for newly qualified social workers.

The Agency recruited 106 social workers up to the end of August this year and a further 148 posts are at various stages of recruitment.

The initiatives described above are designed to assist the Agency in responding to identified service pressures and to provide for a targeted response to such pressures, taking account of identified need and available resources.