Ireland ‘needs 2,000 more social workers’

IRELAND needs up to 2,000 additional social workers to bring child protection services up to the same standard as in the North, social justice campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said.

Fr McVerry, who has worked with troubled youths for 20 years, said it was ironic listening to concerns about child protection in the Church, when the state is the bigger offender.

Fr McVerry said things are “appalling” and that a lack of resources was part of this, claiming an extra 2,000 staff are needed.