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TD fears major exodus of social
workers
12.02.12
FIANNA Fáil children's
spokesman, Charlie McConalogue has expressed serious
concern about "major gaps in the social work system
nationally". The Inishowen TD said 71 social workers
were due to retire by the end of this month.
He said this was in addition "to the Government’s
failure to honour its commitment to deliver 60 extra
social workers last year, as recommended by the Ryan
report". |
Deputy McConalogue
said: “Instead of filling the gaps in our social
care system as recommended by the Ryan Report, the
Government is now allowing even more gaps to appear.
“The Government committed to recruiting 60 social
workers during 2011 but the Minister for Children
Frances Fitzgerald has confirmed that only 10 of
these posts were in place by the end of 2011. The
HSE has now released figures to show that a further
71 social workers of varying grades will retire by
the end of this month. |
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Deputy Charlie McConalogue. |
This will leave an
enormous gap in a system which is already struggling
to cope with the demand for its services."
Deputy McConalogue added: “All of the recent
inquiries into horrific cases of child abuse and
neglect have highlighted the importance of a robust
social work system to reach vulnerable children in
the community.
“I am calling on the Minister for Children Frances
Fitzgerald to outline her contingency plans for the
social work service following the retirement of a
further 71 key workers. I am also calling on the
Minister to ensure the remaining 50 of the 60 posts
she promised to deliver by the end of last year are
put in place urgently. Our child protection services
are already overstretched and these professionals
must begin work immediately," he added. |
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