Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

634. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ratio of social workers to cases by county in each of the years 2013 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15357/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tusla is implementing a national caseload management system which allows management to monitor caseloads in terms of both number and complexity. It is recognised that, from time to time, individual cases can occupy a disproportionate amount of resources. The caseload management system gives managers a clearer insight into the pressures on staff. My Department continues to monitor the number of cases that are reported as awaiting the allocation of a social worker. The additional staff being recruited and the caseload management system will make an improvement in these figures.

The total number of additional social workers needed to deal with unallocated cases and keep within the caseload management system was estimated at 268, based on investment required over the next three years. At the end of March 2016, there were 1503.67 whole time equivalent social workers within Tusla. However, exact figures on the ratio of social workers to cases is not available, as these social workers work on a range of teams including Child Welfare & Protection Duty/Intake, Ongoing Child Protection work, Children in Care and Foster Care. A small number of social workers work in Adoption and other areas.

Tusla has been provided with additional funding of €38m in Budget 2016, including 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 be achieved 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.

The table below shows the number of cases allocated to a dedicated social worker between the 31st of December 2013 and the 31st March 2016, broken down by area level. The information requested is not available on a county basis.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

635. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers currently required and that will be required in the next five to ten years to ensure that all necessary children and cases have a social worker allocated to them, with a manageable workload that allows for quality assessments and care plan implementation; the resources she will make available to Tusla – Child and Family Agency to increase its staff and to reduce its ratios; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15358/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Workforce planning is an essential tool for anticipating possible future developments and maintaining a well-structured workforce of an appropriate size, which is able to meet the changing needs of the public service in a cost-efficient manner. Tusla is currently engaged in developing its Workforce Planning capacity and has prepared an initial medium term analysis of social work resource requirements covering the period 2016 - 2018. No analysis of resource requirement beyond this has yet been conducted.

In that analysis, Tusla identified a requirement for a net increase of 268 social workers to address risk associated with unallocated cases. This process has already begun with additional funding of €6.1m provided in Budget 2016. Additional funding over the period 2017, 2018 and beyond will form part of the overall estimates process in each relevant year.

Regarding unallocated cases, I can assure the Deputy that, as additional social work resources are being put in place, all urgent and emergency child protection cases are dealt with immediately. Cases that are unallocated are closely monitored, supported and managed by the duty social work team under the supervision of the principal social worker. Cases are subject to on-going reviews and where appropriate, the level and nature of support being provided will change depending on the needs of the child.