Retention of social workers 'biggest challenge' facing Tusla  Cork

The review examined a sample of 200 child protection and welfare cases in the North Lee and South Lee social work departments.

An internal audit of Tusla South's work found that staff recruitment and retention was "the single greatest challenge that the Cork area is contending with", particularly in light of "the significant volume of open child protection and welfare records being processed" in the area.

The audit, received under Freedom of Information, also highlights evidence of good and improved practice in what is the country's largest geographical Tusla area, but also some issues which the review team said needed to be addressed.