IN the dispute in which social workers are refusing to carry out some duties, the Eastern Health Board and IMPACT are to set up a review body to assess the need for more childcare resources.
However, the social workers, based in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, are to continue their industrial action, which started on January 2nd. They are refusing to supervise the care of children in families where this is ordered by the courts under their new powers to make supervision orders.
Ms Christina Carney, assistant general secretary of IMPACT, said the decision to set up the review body was "a positive step". She called on the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, to make a specific allocation to meet the cost of implementing the new Childcare Act in the Budget later this month.
The union says that cases involving 400 children are receiving no attention because the EHB has insufficient resources to deal with them. It claims residential facilities are full and social workers chase non existent places.
Although agreement has been reached on setting up the joint union management group to assess the adequacy of resources, the composition and terms of reference of the group have still to be agreed.
"A system which leaves hundreds of children at risk is a national scandal. The dedication and goodwill of social workers alone does not make it possible to deliver the childcare service, which now exist on paper. If our society - and our Government - really cares for children resources must match the growing demand for childcare services", said Ms Carney.
The Eastern Health Board said it was "disappointed" that community care social work teams were refusing to co operate with sections of the 1991 Child Care Act. The board also expressed disappointment chat IMPACT had not deferred its dispute or made use of industrial relations procedures which were recently implemented.
The board said 125 childcare related jobs were created last year in the Eastern Health Board area and an additional £2.2 million had been allocated to provide additional childcare services.
