Fears for children over short-term allocation of social workers

A spokesman for Tusla said the agency had received more than 106,000 referrals last year — up almost 10,000 on the previous year.

Five children in Waterford were allocated a social worker in February even though the worker was due to transfer to a different section at the end of this month, according to a guardian ad litem.

Donal Traynor says he also has concerns about the cases of other children he is guardian ad litem for, as they were awaiting allocation of a new social worker as part of the reform of the structure of Tusla.

He raised particular concerns, however, about the short-term allocation of the social worker for the period from mid-February to the end of this month for the five children. 

The allocation was made even though the social worker will be transferring to a different team within Tusla under the restructuring.

Mr Traynor said: “It’s been chaos and anything but child-centred.” 

Other sources have raised concerns that the reform programme — which will result in the growth of 17 Tusla areas to 30 — could impact on children in care.

A spokesman for Tusla said the agency had received more than 106,000 referrals last year — up almost 10,000 on the previous year.

He said that at the end of 2025, 98% (5,777) of children in care had an allocated key worker.

“Of the 5,777 children allocated, 89% (5,165) were allocated to a social worker and 11% (612) were allocated to another professional," he said. "77% (18,214) of cases open to social work at the end of December 2025 had an allocated case worker. 

"Of these, 82% (14,928) were allocated to a social worker and 18% (3,286) were allocated to another professional.” 

He said that in the Waterford/Wexford area at the end of last year, 383 children accounting for 99% of children in care had been allocated to a key worker.

He added: “Of these, 85% (326) were allocated to a social worker and 15% (57) were allocated to a another professional. 

"Of all 1298 cases open to the social work service in the area at the end of 2025, 82% (1067) were allocated to a social worker or another professional.” 

In relation to the restructuring programme, he said: “Tusla is undertaking a significant programme of reform, and as of January 1 of this year, has gone live with a new local integrated service delivery model, moving from 17 areas to 30 local networks. 

"The new networks are designed more evenly, taking into account population and local disadvantage, so children and families have fairer access to our services, no matter where they live. 

"Local teams are now more integrated, bringing together early support and child safety professionals, so children and families get the right help based on their needs.” 

Earlier this month, Tusla announced the opening of a new training college aimed at increasing the availability of staff for special care and residential care.

The six-month course is aimed at plugging the gaps in special care and residential care staffing across the country. 

There are three special care units across the country for troubled and vulnerable children from 11 to 17 years of age. 

Some 26 beds are in the units, but only 15 are operational because of staffing issues.

The Tusla spokesman said that it is committed to ensuring that “every child and young person in care has an allocated social worker, and we continue to make every effort to increase the supply, recruitment and retention of social workers”.