Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

173. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare cases awaiting allocation to a social worker in each Tusla local office area, by the priority status of the case and the average waiting time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43195/17]

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

I can inform the Deputy that there were 26,192 open cases nationally at the end of July which includes children in care. An open case is one which is assessed as needing a dedicated (allocated) social work service. There were 5,524 open cases awaiting allocation of a social worker. Of these, 816 were designated as high priority, 3,609 as medium priority and 1,099 as low priority.

A high priority case can include children needing further child protection assessment and intervention, children involved with child protection court proceedings, children in care for less than 6 months and children with high risk mental health and anti-social difficulties. Many children who are deemed medium and low priority have welfare rather than child protection needs and will engage with family support services.

I am informed by Tusla that a case awaiting allocation may be listed as 'active' on a 'duty ' system. This means that there are actions being undertaken by a dedicated duty team or rotating social workers on a duty roster to progress the protection and welfare of the child. Examples of actions being undertaken include telephone calls relating to the concern, visits to see the child, completing initial assessments and, where a child is in care, completing child in care reviews or care plans.

Tusla has provided the following information on the number of cases awaiting allocation to a social worker per administrative area and waiting times. This information is included in the tables below.

Addressing the number of children who are awaiting the allocation of a social worker is a priority for me. I secured additional funding for the purpose of addressing this issue in 2017, and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is now in the second year of a 3-year plan to provide for the allocation of a dedicated social worker to all children who need one.The Deputy should note that all urgent and emergency cases notified to Tusla are dealt with immediately. Urgent and emergency cases could involve cases of abandonment, allegations of physical and sexual abuse, parental ill health leading to the need for an immediate placement, or threat to the safety or life of a child by a third party.

My Department will continue to closely monitor progress in this regard and I will continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and senior management team, over the course of the year, to review progress.