After-hours ‘social care’ report due

A WORKING group set up in the aftermath of the 2005 death of Sharon Grace and her two daughters, to look into the provision of out-of-hours social work care for at-risk families is expected to finish its report next month.

The lack of after-hours social work services was highlighted again last month when it emerged that there was no HSE staff member available to call to the Monageer home of Adrian and Ciara Dunne during the weekend of April 21/22. Their bodies, and those of their daughters Leán 5 and Shania 3 were found on Monday, April 23.

Recommendations on the provision of out-of-hours child protection services are now being finalised by the national working group which was established to review services. A spokesperson for the HSE said that a model for “a consistent and comprehensive out of hours service for children and families” will be part of the report.