Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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774. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate actions being taken to address the understaffing and funding issues within Tusla; the means by which she plans to address the understaffing in the north west, specifically regarding caseloads of children in foster care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51503/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you Deputy, for your question on this important matter. I will outline the actions that the Department has been and continues taking to address Tusla's funding and staffing requirements.

In 2025, Tusla received an increase in funding of €153m. This brought it's budget from €1.132bn in 2024 to €1.284bn in 2025 representing the third consecutive year that Tusla's funding exceeded €1bn.

The increased funding in 2025 is enabling Tusla to support foster carers, increase residential care capacity, address gaps in special care provision, and expand provision for family support services.

Tusla had 5,417 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff, as at the end of June 2025. This equates to a net increase of 291 WTE (5.7%) from June 2024. This includes a net additional 77 social workers (4.9%) and 73 social care workers (5.5%). Staffing numbers are expected to rise further by the end of 2025.

Notwithstanding these increases, the Government acknowledges the current level of social work vacancies in Tusla, and the challenges in recruitment and retention, as well as increasing levels of referrals to Tusla.

The Department has ensured that social worker staffing is included as a priority in Tusla's Performance Framework 2024-2026.

The Department is supporting Tusla with a number of initiatives to retain and recruit social workers, and other disciplines, to meet demand for services.

These initiatives include:

• A new Special Care Worker grade, offering a top salary nearly 20% higher than the standard Social Care Worker grade, and over 3% higher than the Social Care Leader grade.
• A Social Work Apprenticeship programme, launched with the HSE and UCC in 2024. Tusla welcomed 36 apprentices in 2024 and a further 77 to date in 2025 under this programme.
• A work based-learning programme, leading to a BA in Social Care. Tusla has welcomed 18 work-based learners to this programme in 2025.