State urged to fund statutory social work service for vulnerable adults

The Irish Association of Social Workers has called on the Government to establish and fund a statutory social work service for vulnerable adults, amid warnings that many people are allowed to drift into the margins of society with no single agency responsible for their welfare.

The motion was passed at the recent IASW’s annual conference in Athlone, with delegates hearing that without such an agency, “vulnerable persons can fall within the gaps of care”.

The move was proposed by the IASW board of directors and seconded by IASW chairman Frank Browne before it was passed.