Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I acknowledge the current level of social work vacancies in Tusla and the challenges in recruiting sufficient numbers of social workers into Tusla. The critical importance of children in care and children in need of child welfare and protection services being allocated a social worker is paramount, and my Department is working closely with Tusla on the recruitment and retention of social workers.

The data requested by the Deputy is collated by Tusla administrative area and not by county, hence data is supplied for the Louth/Meath local area. All referrals received by Tusla are screened and assessed as appropriate in line with ‘Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children’. Where there is an immediate risk to a child or young person, there is an immediate protective response.

I can confirm the following in relation to a breakdown of the number of children deemed at risk who have not been allocated a social worker in County Meath/Louth in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024:

Tusla has advised that the number of children listed on the Child Protection Notification System has risen significantly. It was 28 children in 2023 and as of the 22nd April last year it was 68.

The Tusla Regional Chief Officer and Tusla area manager have confirmed with the Department that there is a robust Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) in place in the area to manage unallocated cases. The SOP is robust with regular review of unallocated cases taking place and allocations by priority. There are also regular audits by the area service improvement Principal social worker to ensure the SOP is being followed.

My Department issued as part of its Performance Framework for 2024-2026 to Tusla, a list of priorities for Tusla including the retention of social workers. This includes a number of actions for Tusla to improve the recruitment and retention of social workers, including engagement with Higher Education Institutions, focused recruitment on areas with highest and complex needs, monitoring recruitment activities and continuing to reduce the reliance on agency staffing, and various measures around enhancing Tusla as an employer of choice.