13/05/2008
HSE Defends Allegations On Childcare Under funding
The Health Service Executive has today defended itself amid accusations its funding and staffing for childcare services is insufficient.
Current affairs television programme, Prime Time Investigates, highlighted the impact of the HSE's recruitment embargo and employment controls on services available for children and young people at risk of abuse.
The HSE also faced criticism from opposition politicians. Fine Gael TD, Alan Shatter, called on the Children’s Minister Barry Andrews to release details on the number of children classified as at 'serious risk' currently on waiting lists for comprehensive assessment, or social work intervention.
He said: "Last night's Prime Time Investigates programme starkly illustrated the gross inadequacies of our child protection services. It has been clear for some considerable time that there are a large number of children reported to HSE Community Care teams as being at serious risk as a result of abuse or neglect."
The TD added he believed it was "extraordinary" the HSE’s response to the programme didn’t mention the number of children presently awaiting assessment or intervention.
The HSE said today the past decade had seen considerable expansion and development in the range and quality of child and family services.
It said that expenditure on children, adolescent and family services totalled €572 million in 2007, or which €460 million was spent directly on children and family services.
The HSE was also accused of cutting back the amount of social workers available and although admitted there are 163 vacant social worker posts, the executive stressed 47 of these vacancies are in the process of being filled.
It added that a number of local recruitment campaigns are in progress and that a national campaign will be undertaken for basic social workers later this year.
The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW), said that children are at huge risk due to the failure of the HSE to fill vacant social work posts.
(DW)
Current affairs television programme, Prime Time Investigates, highlighted the impact of the HSE's recruitment embargo and employment controls on services available for children and young people at risk of abuse.
The HSE also faced criticism from opposition politicians. Fine Gael TD, Alan Shatter, called on the Children’s Minister Barry Andrews to release details on the number of children classified as at 'serious risk' currently on waiting lists for comprehensive assessment, or social work intervention.
He said: "Last night's Prime Time Investigates programme starkly illustrated the gross inadequacies of our child protection services. It has been clear for some considerable time that there are a large number of children reported to HSE Community Care teams as being at serious risk as a result of abuse or neglect."
The TD added he believed it was "extraordinary" the HSE’s response to the programme didn’t mention the number of children presently awaiting assessment or intervention.
The HSE said today the past decade had seen considerable expansion and development in the range and quality of child and family services.
It said that expenditure on children, adolescent and family services totalled €572 million in 2007, or which €460 million was spent directly on children and family services.
The HSE was also accused of cutting back the amount of social workers available and although admitted there are 163 vacant social worker posts, the executive stressed 47 of these vacancies are in the process of being filled.
It added that a number of local recruitment campaigns are in progress and that a national campaign will be undertaken for basic social workers later this year.
The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW), said that children are at huge risk due to the failure of the HSE to fill vacant social work posts.
(DW)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
08 August 2008
HSE Abandons 'Out Of Hours' Emergency Child Care
Proposed budget cuts by the Health Service Executive could lead to troubled teens being effectively 'left out in the cold' by care agencies. Their planned 'out-of-hours' social care service for troubled children have now been abandoned by the HSE due to spending cuts.
HSE Abandons 'Out Of Hours' Emergency Child Care
Proposed budget cuts by the Health Service Executive could lead to troubled teens being effectively 'left out in the cold' by care agencies. Their planned 'out-of-hours' social care service for troubled children have now been abandoned by the HSE due to spending cuts.
06 May 2009
Investigation Into Church Care Inquiry Suspended
The Ombudsman for Children has suspended its investigation into a child protection audit of the Catholic Church by the HSE and the Department of Health. Ombudsman Emily Logan said on Wednesday she had suspended her investigation due to the failure by the HSE to "genuinely cooperate with the process".
Investigation Into Church Care Inquiry Suspended
The Ombudsman for Children has suspended its investigation into a child protection audit of the Catholic Church by the HSE and the Department of Health. Ombudsman Emily Logan said on Wednesday she had suspended her investigation due to the failure by the HSE to "genuinely cooperate with the process".
28 April 2015
HSE Publishes GP Contract For Children's Free Healthcare
The GP contract document for the provision of free care for children under 6, has been published by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
HSE Publishes GP Contract For Children's Free Healthcare
The GP contract document for the provision of free care for children under 6, has been published by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
05 November 2009
Secure Children's Facility To Be Closed
The State's main secure unit for housing highly disruptive children and young people is to be closed as concerns emerge that the facility is "not fit for purpose". The Special Care Unit in Ballydowd, west Dublin, cost €13 million to build nine years ago and has been used to detain up to 18 children and young people.
Secure Children's Facility To Be Closed
The State's main secure unit for housing highly disruptive children and young people is to be closed as concerns emerge that the facility is "not fit for purpose". The Special Care Unit in Ballydowd, west Dublin, cost €13 million to build nine years ago and has been used to detain up to 18 children and young people.
10 January 2013
FF Slams HSE Service Plan
Fianna Fail spokesperson on Health has said the HSE Service Plan published today is "significantly less substantial than the one published last year, and criticised it for being "less than half the detail" compared to the plan last year.
FF Slams HSE Service Plan
Fianna Fail spokesperson on Health has said the HSE Service Plan published today is "significantly less substantial than the one published last year, and criticised it for being "less than half the detail" compared to the plan last year.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Central and southern areas will be mainly dry and bright with sunny intervals and a few showers. The north will turn cloudier with the chance of more frequent showers, heavy at times. Breezy, strong winds at times around the coast. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Patchy rain or showers towards the north coast this evening, mainly dry elsewhere with some clear spells through County Down. Cloud thickening again overnight with patchy rain by dawn. Minimum temperature 10 °C.