Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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427. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the shortage of social workers for children at serious risk; the measures he will take to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12824/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) have advised that there were 1,397.04 whole time equivalent social workers employed at the end of February 2015 and that they are currently recruiting an additional 218 social workers. The impact of vacancies on service provision is risk-assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that social work team members are never allowed to fall below what is considered necessary to provide a safe service. Such risk-assessments take account of issues such as case loads and referral numbers. Where necessary, temporary staff are brought in immediately to cover vacancies until such vacancies are filled on a permanent basis.

Stability, experience and capacity of staff working in the area of child protection and child welfare are extremely important. The Agency is committed to producing a Workforce Development Strategy by end of Quarter Two in 2015. This is to ensure that strategic and operational workforce development plans and processes are established as key activities in the Agency. This development presents the Agency with a significant opportunity to improve resource deployment, skill and grade mix and staff motivation to the benefit of the children and families. The workforce development plan will consider issues around recruitment, retention and turnover of key staff. This will also include further developing supports through structured professional and career development.

While I would prefer to have a zero rate of vacancies in this specialised area of work, it is important to acknowledge that staffing vacancies arise for a variety of reasons, including retirements, career breaks, paid and unpaid leave (including maternity and other family related leave) and resignations. In that context there will always be gaps in timing around the filling of posts. The turnover rate of social workers at the Agency for 2014 was just under 8% which compares favourably with experience in other countries. Every effort is being made by the Agency to speed up recruitment and develop a comprehensive workforce development plan in 2015 which will assist in addressing staff turnover rates and lower them further.