Tusla audit says high number of unallocated cases poses child protection risks

Agency says recruitment campaigns have helped to reduce staff shortage in Dublin south west/Kildare/west Wicklow where there were 971 unallocated cases in June

Issues with the recruitment and retention of key staff continues to pose challenges to the governance and oversight of unallocated cases in Dublin south west/Kildare/west Wicklow, an internal audit said. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

The ongoing high number of unallocated cases awaiting a social worker in Dublin south west/Kildare/west Wicklow continues to pose a risk to child protection in the area, according to an internal audit conducted by Tusla, the child and family agency.

At the end of June, the area reported 971 unallocated cases, representing 50 per cent of open cases (1,949). This was an increase of 26 on the May 2020 figure for unallocated cases.

Ongoing issues ...