John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1308. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the volume of cases handled by the Irish foster care association for 2016 has seen a substantial increase in calls from Waterford; her views on the fact that the highest volume of calls from Waterford relate to allegations and child protection concerns; her plans to address the fact that 62% of the concerns expressed relate to poor communications with social workers; if she is satisfied that concerns from families providing foster care are being dealt with adequately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13836/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from my Department are in regular contact with representatives from the Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA). Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, also holds regular meetings with the Association. Early in 2016, the issue of an increase in calls to the support line relating to the Waterford area was highlighted during the course of these meetings. Senior management from Tusla met with members of the Irish Foster Care Association and explored the issues. It was also noted that each contact was recorded and that one issue could generate a number of calls. It was agreed that concerns raised would be followed up within the relevant teams. As a result of measures taken there was a significant reduction in calls relating to the area in question. In March 2016, 11.3% of the overall average of calls related to this area but this stood at 0% of the national average at December, 2016.

The issue of allegations and child protection concerns was also explored and it was noted, at the time, that a small number of serious allegations were under investigation. These were contributing to the statistics for calls to the IFCA support line. The issues were resolved locally and supported by the positive working relationships of Tusla and the Irish Foster Care Association.

Since the beginning of 2017, IFCA has reported that contacts to the support line relating to the Waterford area represents 1.9% of the overall total contacts and that no specific trends have been identified.

Senior staff with specific responsibility for fostering services in the Waterford area works in partnership with foster carers to support them in their caring role. They meet biannually with IFCA and approximately every eight weeks with the local Tusla Fostering Strategic working group. This working group is comprised of foster carers and social work staff and works collaboratively on service improvement planning and responding to concerns as they arise.