Ryan Report Prompts 24-Hour Social Work Service

Round-the-clock social workers' may soon be made available after preliminary findings of two pilot projects for out-of-hours social work which are currently underway in Donegal and Cork.

Fine Gael Cork North West, Áine Collins, welcomed the news after the National Oversight Group, evaluating out of hours social services pilot projects in Cork and Donegal, recommended the facility to provide 24-hour social work services.

Deputy Collins said the progress was to be commended, as is the seriousness with which the Government is addressing childcare needs.

“From the get-go, the new Government signalled its intention to deal with issues surrounding our children’s safety by establishing, for the first time, a full-time Children’s ministry. Our children are our most valuable resource and it is incumbent on us to make sure they are protected and safe from harm at all times.

“Recognising that families come into difficulty at all hours of the day, and not just between the hours of 9 to 5, the Government committed to establishing an out-of-hours social work service. This began with two pilot projects, one in Cork and the other in Donegal, with a National Oversight Group making recommendations to the Minister on the best way to advance the scheme. A national roll-out is planned for 2012.

Establishment of an out-of-hours social work service is a key recommendation on the Ryan Report, which revealed shocking evidence of child abuse and lack of child protection in the Catholic church.

Minister for Children, Francis Fitzgerald, who personally took-over the chair of the Ryan Report Implementation Group and said: "Recent reports have highlighted the need to establish an out-of-hours social work service. Families’ crises don’t take a break after 5pm or at weekends, neither should our social work services.

"In line with the Programme for Government, I am committed to delivering on the establishment of an out-of-hours social work service. I welcome the progress being made with the two pilot projects in Cork and Donegal," he said.

The commitment within the Ryan Report is to put in place a national out-of-hours crisis intervention social work service, built into the existing HSE out-of-hours service.

The Donegal pilot is being conducted in conjunction with the NowDoc service to receive and respond to telephone referrals from the Donegal Gardaí Siochana using a Social Worker out-of-hours list.

(DW)