David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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14. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to further resource Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to address the heavy caseloads of social workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14829/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I want to acknowledge at the outset the excellent work done by social workers and other personnel within Tusla in the provision of child welfare and protection services.

Tusla has been provided with additional funding of €38m in Budget 2016, including additional funding of over €6 million to reduce the number of cases awaiting allocation of a social worker. As part of its Business Plan for this year, Tusla has committed to a number of key targets to achieve by the end of 2016. These targets include a 60% decrease of cases awaiting allocation; reducing the number of high priority cases awaiting allocation to less than 5% of the total number of unallocated cases; and ensuring that all children in foster care and residential care have an allocated social worker.

Tusla has made progress in its targets. In March 2016, there were 5,579 open cases awaiting allocation, down by 17% since December 2015.

Key to reducing the number of cases awaiting allocation to a social worker, and the associated risk, is the recruitment of staff, including additional social workers and support personnel. Tusla has been provided with additional resources to do this. Tusla has set a target to recruit an additional 168 WTE additional social workers this year. Since the beginning of 2016, the number of social workers has increased by 133 WTEs.

In addition, the issue of addressing heavy caseloads can also be impacted positively by an agencies caseload management approach. Tusla's approach to social work services was developed and piloted in 2013 and rolled out across the country in 2014. It was agreed at the time that a detailed review would be undertaken in 2015 to review methodology and recommend any changes required. It is anticipated the report will be completed in the very near future.

Officials in my Department meet with the Tusla senior management team on a monthly basis and review progress in the recruitment and retention of social workers and other key personnel. My Department has already commenced discussions regarding Tusla's budget requirements for 2017. I will be meeting with the Board of Tusla shortly during which I will discuss key service priorities and anticipated financial requirements for next year.