Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of young persons in care without an allocated social worker; by county or by sub-county level, such as Dublin North, Dublin South and so on. [4212/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The latest figures I have to hand from the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, indicates that, in October 2015, there were 6,331 children in care. Almost 93% of children in care were in a foster care setting. Of all children in care, over 93% (5,903) had an allocated social worker. Tusla's policy is that all children coming into care and those in high risk placements have an allocated social worker. Subsequent gaps may be attributed to a number of factors including maternity leave, vacancies and competing priorities.

Where a child is awaiting the allocation of a social worker, this is responded to by a social work duty team on a risk management basis. During this time, specific pieces of work on the child's case may be undertaken by staff working in the duty system. The increased budget for Tusla for 2016 should result in higher levels of children in care having an allocated social worker.

The following table represents the data available from 31 October 2015: