Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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516. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a national training needs analysis has ever been carried out by Tusla; and if so, if she will provide a copy of the results of same. [46600/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As training is an operational matter for the Tusla, I do not have sight of the documents referenced by the Deputy. I am advised by Tusla that its training needs analysis is managed in line with the Tusla Strategy for Continual Professional Development. The strategy calls for a three yearly agency wide training needs analysis to be coordinated by Tusla Workforce Learning and Development. I understand that the most recent training needs analysis commenced in late 2017.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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517. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the follow-up that will be carried out to ensure that an assessment is completed (details supplied). [46601/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am aware that Tusla is currently developing a Multi-Annual Strategic Workforce Plan and this will be finalised before the end of this year.

Strategic workforce planning is central to ensuring that Tusla can meet its needs by reconfiguring the workforce to deliver better care outcomes in the future.

I am informed that the plan will include actions to improve access to potential talent pools, review the appropriate skills mix of staff and examining what this will mean for Tusla and how it will operate. This work will be done in conjunction with HIQA recommendations regarding the review of the area and team structures.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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518. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of joint specialist interview training sessions in interviewing persons alleging child sexual abuse that have been completed by Tusla staff in 2018. [46602/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Currently 12 Social Workers are trained and operating as specialist interviewers. An additional 5 are trained but need refresher training before they can recommence conducting interviews. Refresher training is being organised by Templemore for later this year. Tusla has 12 places on specialist interviewing training courses being organised before the end of December 2018.

Assuming the 12 social workers training later this year complete successfully and the 5 social workers requiring refresher training also complete, there should be 29 social work specialist interviewers available from the start of 2019.