Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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33. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the deficit in social workers assigned to County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33434/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla’s social work services in Tipperary are divided between two areas - Mid West Area and Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary Area.

At the end of August 2016 the Mid West Area had 124 whole time equivalent social workers and the Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary Area had 62 whole time equivalent social workers. Tusla services are delivered geographically through 17 areas in total and the social worker whole time equivalent is reflective of the service needs of the particular area’s population.

Tusla continues to have ambitious recruitment targets and expects to recruit an additional 90 whole time equivalent social workers before the end of 2016 and an additional 135 whole time equivalent social workers in 2017. I understand that the allocation of these additional social workers in Tusla's 17 areas, including the two areas incorporating Tipperary, will be informed by on-going discussions between Tusla and its Regional HR Managers to identify positions required to meet service needs.

2017 will be the second year of a three year initiative to tackle the issue of child protection cases awaiting allocation to a social worker and the additional funding announced by my Department for Tusla in 2017 will allow the Agency to continue its programme of social worker recruitment to address this issue.