Andrews denies Gardaí are ‘being used as social workers’

GARDAÍ are not “being used as virtual social workers” at night time, the office of the Minister for Children Barry Andrews has insisted.

Mr Andrews also said his office was working towards the development of an out-of-hours social worker service around the country

The minister was responding to claims in an article in this newspaper by representatives from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) that they had become “virtual social workers” since the Emergency Place of Safety (EPS) service started a year ago. The AGSI claimed that outside of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow, Gardaí are charged with contacting a private foster care agency, Five Rivers Ireland, when they believe a child is “at immediate and serious risk” and needs emergency accommodation.