Councillor Noel Collins tabled a motion at a recent meeting of Cork County Council asking that the authority reinstate the recruitment of social workers in its housing department.
The councillor told the meeting “I was approached by an overwhelming number of individuals seeking advice on family matters. I contacted Cork County Council to make arrangements for them to meet social workers who could put a support network in place to help them through their troubled times.”
The councillor added “imagine the shock I felt when I was advised there was no longer anyone available. It is clearly evident that the recession has left an indefinable mark on our country, falling apart due to crippling debt and the stress that goes with it.”
The Midleton councillor continued “to remove the services of social workers professionally trained to deal with such ills at a time when they are so desperately needed it serves to create more of a burden on those in need and a further stretch on services.”
There are currently 31 local authorities in Ireland 24 of those have a social worker employed in the their housing department 7 do not. Cork County Council is one of those.
Council CEO Tim Lucey told the meeting “quite a number of staff were given the opportunity in 2013 for voluntary redundancy. Quiet a few took it. I am not in a position revisit the situation. There wasn’t a business need for it at the time. ”
Labour councillor Cathal Rassmussen told the meeting “we got it wrong. I would assume redundancies were agreed by the council. We are now in a position where we are in extreme crisis and it’s not going to get any better. Is there any way we can make a special case to have a social worker reemployed?”
Mr Lucey added “we are currently under an embargo so we have limited scope to begin with. There is staff right across the housing department that are experts, not in social work but can give detailed information on housing needs.”
On further pressing by Councillor Collins the County Manager agreed to make enquiries regarding the lifting of the employment embargo on recruiting a social worker.