56,000 calls for help to Tusla

THERE were more than 56,000 referrals to child service Tusla in 2019, their annual report shows.

It was an increase of 3% on the previous year, and an increase of 30% since it was formed in 2014. A further 24,828 children received a family support service from Tusla last year.

Pat Rabbitte, chair of Tusla, said: “In 2019 Tusla demonstrated significant and constructive progress in delivering the mandate which has been given to us by government, a mandate that is far wider than is generally appreciated, is often complex and will always be challenging.

“It is gratifying to be able to report progress evident across the Agency and I have been consistently encouraged by the professionalism and level of commitment by staff in the course of their work. The

Pat Rabbitte recruitment and retention of social workers continued to be an area of concern for the agency in 2019, and Tusla sought to develop new initiatives to attract social work graduates in 2019 and is investing in strategies to improve staff retention.

“Overall, Tusla must continue to improve and innovate, be prepared to admit its mistakes and to evolve a culture not hidebound by

the past.”

REPORT