Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

408. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care without an allocated social worker in each area; the reason for the high number, 47 out of a total of 412 in care, in the Galway-Roscommon area as of 31 October 2015; the steps he is taking to address this; the number of social workers available for this work over each of the past five years in the Galway-Roscommon area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5639/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The latest figures I have to hand from the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, indicates that, on 31st December 2015, there were 6,388 children in care. Almost 93% of children in care were in a foster care setting. Of all children in care, over 93% (5,937) 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, work with the child and their family may be undertaken by the social work team leader or social workers in the duty system. Some of these children may have had an allocated social worker, but due to a social worker leaving, they are reclassified as awaiting a social worker. The increased budget for Tusla for 2016 should result in higher levels of children in care having an allocated social worker.

My officials have engaged with Tusla regarding local areas with a high number of children in care without an allocated social worker, and the steps that are being taken, as a priority, to remedy this situation.

The following table represents the data available as at 31 December 2015.