John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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191. 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. [32362/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have been informed by Tusla' the Child and Family Agency' that in August 2016 there were 20'797 children (open cases) who had an allocated social worker. This work involves dealing with issues of assessment' child protection' and children in care. There were a further 4'727 children (open cases) who had been assessed as needing a dedicated social worker' and were waiting for one to be allocated. Some of these cases may have had an allocated social worker. However' maternity leave' sick leave and movement of staff within the service can result in a case being unallocated for a short period of time. I wish to assure the Deputy that all urgent and emergency cases are dealt with immediately. This could involve' for example' cases of abandonment' allegations of physical and sexual abuse' parental ill health and the need to find an immediate placement' or threat to the safety or life of a child by a third party.

Tusla is currently implementing a three-year development plan which includes provision for extra staffing to meet critical service concerns such as addressing children with no allocated social worker. The Government has provided significant additional resources to Tusla' and the Agency have been instructed to expedite the recruitment of staff to address such capacity concerns. During 2016' Tusla has been active in developing its capacity to recruit and retain staff across its multi-disciplinary organisation and this will continue throughout 2017 with a particular focus on areas of highest need.

This Department continues to monitor the number of cases that are reported as awaiting the allocation of a social worker. The additional funding of €37 million which has been secured for Tusla in 2017 will provide increased resources to meet identified risks and service demands. The information requested by the Deputy relating to each local area is detailed in the table.

Number of Open Cases by Allocation Status and Area