Support for vulnerable children in west Wicklow plummets
The Wicklow PeopleA sharp decline in support for children in State care has sparked an urgent call for government intervention, as new figures reveal a deepening crisis in the child protection system across County Wicklow and the surrounding regions.
Data provided to Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman highlights a surge in the number of vulnerable children left without a dedicated professional to oversee their welfare. In the Dublin Southwest, Kildare, and west Wicklow region, the number of children in care without an allocated social worker has quadrupled in just 18 months.
Green Party spokesperson for children and Greystones councillor, Lourda Scott, labelled the findings "deeply concerning”, noting that while the number of children entering the care system has remained stable, the resources to protect them have evaporated in specific pockets of the country.
In west Wicklow and its neighbouring districts, the rate of unallocated cases has skyrocketed from 6pc to 23pc in two years. This means nearly one in four children in the region is currently navigating the State system without a primary link to their duty of care.
“Every child in care deserves consistent support,” Cllr Scott stated.
“It is unacceptable that resources for support may not be available simply because of where you live. This makes no sense and is very unfair to families already struggling.”
The figures highlight a stark regional divide. While the system in west Wicklow struggles, other areas demonstrate that full allocation is possible with different management.
Mayo currently has no children without an allocation, and Cork, which oversees the highest number of children in care nationally (663), has only three children waiting for an allocation.
The absence of a social worker is more than a bureaucratic delay, it is a fundamental service failure. A social worker serves as the child’s voice, ensuring their medical, educational, and emotional needs are met while maintaining a vital link between the family and the State.
"A child in care without a social worker is a child without a voice," said Cllr Scott.
"This isn't about an influx of new cases overwhelming the system. This is a failure that is leaving our most vulnerable citizens at risk of falling through the cracks."
In response to the data, Cllr Scott is demanding immediate government action to bridge staffing gaps. She is calling for an immediate investigation into why allocation rates are collapsing in the Dublin–Wicklow belt, despite stable case numbers, along with a requirement that any region falling below a 95 per cent allocation rate put a strictly monitored recovery strategy in place.
She also argues that the wider Tusla recruitment crisis must be addressed, as it has resulted in high‑priority cases remaining backlogged for months.
"A child in care without a social worker is a child without a voice," says Scott.
"This isn't about an influx of new cases overwhelming the system. The numbers of children in care haven't changed. This is a fundamental service failure that is leaving our most vulnerable citizens at risk," she added.