Written answers
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Child and Family Agency Data
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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964. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases awaiting allocation to a social worker in each Tusla local office area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27472/16]
Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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At the end of July 2016, there were a total of 25,069 open child welfare and protection cases nationwide. An open case is one which is assessed as needing a dedicated (allocated) social work service. Of the 25,069 open cases, 80% (20,019) had an allocated social worker and 5,050 were waiting to be allocated a social worker. This is a decrease of 1,668 (25%) in the number of unallocated cases since December 2015. The table gives details of the numbers of open cases broken into allocated and awaiting allocation for each administrative area as at end July 2016.
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.
| Administrative Area - July 2016 | Number of Open Cases | Number of Open Cases Allocated | % of Open Cases Allocated | Number of Open Cases Awaiting Allocation | % of Open Cases Awaiting Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin South Central | 1,222 | 1,116 | 91% | 106 | 9% |
| Dublin South East/Wicklow | 1,045 | 981 | 94% | 64 | 6% |
| Dublin South West /Kildare/West Wicklow | 1,122 | 517 | 46% | 605 | 54% |
| Midlands | 1,638 | 1,041 | 64% | 597 | 36% |
| Dublin North City | 1,781 | 1,533 | 86% | 248 | 14% |
| Dublin North | 2,716 | 2,007 | 74% | 709 | 26% |
| Louth/Meath | 1,407 | 1,144 | 81% | 263 | 19% |
| Cavan/Monaghan | 699 | 475 | 68% | 224 | 32% |
| Cork | 4,794 | 4,031 | 84% | 763 | 16% |
| Kerry | 561 | 531 | 95% | 30 | 5% |
| Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary | 1,139 | 839 | 74% | 300 | 26% |
| Waterford/Wexford | 1,655 | 1,376 | 83% | 279 | 17% |
| Mid West | 1,723 | 1,411 | 82% | 312 | 18% |
| Galway/Roscommon | 1,779 | 1,398 | 79% | 381 | 21% |
| Mayo | 584 | 564 | 97% | 20 | 3% |
| Donegal | 748 | 700 | 94% | 48 | 6% |
| Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan | 456 | 355 | 78% | 101 | 22% |
| National Total | 25,069 | 20,019 | 80% | 5,050 | 20% |
Tusla is currently reviewing the management of unallocated cases in all areas to ensure that thresholds are being applied consistently and appropriate actions taken as required. Tusla report that the increases and decreases in the overall total and numbers per area can be due to an increase in case closures or the allocation of additional cases to social workers.
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