Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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524. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases allocated to a social worker in each Tusla local office area; the number awaiting allocation, by priority level, average length of time waiting in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11605/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Information about unallocated cases is published monthly on the Tusla website. The most up to date data available is for December 2017. I can inform the Deputy that there were 24,891 open cases nationally at the end of December. Of these, 4,892 were awaiting allocation of a social worker. This information is provided in the following table.

Tusla does not publish data on average time waiting by area. At the end of December 2017, 196 High Priority cases were waiting under 1 month, 189 were waiting 1-3 months, 346 were waiting for 3 months or more, and the waiting time was unknown for 87.

Addressing the number of children who are awaiting the allocation of a social worker is one of my key priorities. I  secured funds in Budget 2018 which will allow Tusla to carry out the third year of a 3 year plan to provide for the allocation of a dedicated social worker to all children who need one. Tusla are also funded to recruit family support workers, social care staff and administrative staff to work alongside social workers in supporting vulnerable children and families.

An unallocated case  relates to a  case about a child  that is deemed to need a social work assessment,  but has not yet been  allocated to a social worker. All urgent and emergency cases receive immediate attention by the local duty social work team. The majority of  unallocated cases are new referrals, however they may also  include children living with their families who had an allocated social worker, or to a child in care, where there is now a social work vacancy.

I am informed by Tusla that a case awaiting allocation may be listed as 'active on duty'. Tusla indicate that this may includes checking with professionals who see the child regularly, or visiting the child and family at home, getting additional information about the child's situation and, in some instances where a child is in care, organising a Care Plan Review and visiting the child. 

I, and my officials, will continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and Senior Management Team to monitor and  review progress in reducing the number of unallocated cases and the waiting time for the allocation of a social worker to a case assessed as requiring a social work service. 

Cases awaiting allocation by area and priority level