Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

498. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children deemed at risk who have not been allocated a social worker in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15846/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services.

Recruitment of social workers remains a priority for Tusla. Tusla has been engaging with social work graduates to conduct interviews prior to graduation, improving the pool of potential recruits. Tusla has also conducted a conversion of agency staff to Tusla staff which will improve continuity of service. My Department has established a Social Work Education Group looking to expand the throughput of suitably qualified Social Work graduates.

Tusla, reports monthly and quarterly on performance across its seventeen areas. Meath comes under the area of Louth Meath within the Dublin North East Region.

The Deputy is seeking information on the number of children in one particular county without an allocated social worker. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

499. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children deemed at risk who have not been allocated a social worker in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15847/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services.

Recruitment of social workers remains a priority for Tusla. Tusla has been engaging with social work graduates to conduct interviews prior to graduation, improving the pool of potential recruits. Tusla has also conducted a conversion of agency staff to Tusla staff which will improve continuity of service. My Department has established a Social Work Education Group looking to expand the throughput of suitably qualified Social Work graduates.

Tusla, reports monthly and quarterly on performance across its seventeen areas. Westmeath comes under the Midlands area which also covers the counties of Laois, Longford and Offaly.

The Deputy is seeking information on the number of children in one particular county without an allocated social worker. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.