Council of Trade Unions raise alarm to cuts to therapeutic services in Kilkenny

Waterford Council of Trade Unions (WCTU) raises alarm at news that TUSLA is defunding a service level agreement (SLA) in Waterford and Wexford that supports children in care and foster carers in South Kilkenny.

The therapeutic service in Waterford and Wexford has been funded by Tusla for the last eight years through St Brigid’s Family Resource Centre, which operates in Waterford City.

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WCTU is responding to concerns relating to the defunding of a crucial therapeutic service which operates across Waterford, Wexford and South Kilkenny.

WCTU were notified that “three workers – two play therapists and one social care leader have been issued with redundancy notices which will see their employment cease on Mau 15.

A WCTU spokesperson stated, “staff working within TUSLA services have long advocated for an increase to publicly accessible therapeutic support for the children and families they work with, it is astounding that TUSLA is defunding a service that provide publicly funded play therapy and therapeutic social care services to the most vulnerable children across Waterford, Wexford and South Kilkenny”.

“The Trade Union movement has voiced it’s concerns about the increasing creep of privatisation in our health and social care services, senior management in TUSLA are stating that these vital workers can offer their services as a private vendor if they wish. These three workers have worked alongside their colleagues in TUSLA for years, building up friendships, respect and a joint working relationship that has been invaluable to the public service”

“WCTU supports these staff members and indeed the frontline staff within the agency who know how crucial these services are to the most vulnerable children across the area. The staff members are fighting for the survival of the service, which provides crucial help for children and families across the region every year.” 

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WCTU stated “typical of the selflessness of these workers – while their own employment is being actively threatened, they are intensely highlighting to TUSLA management, the negative impact these cuts could have on children who are working with therapists as part of the process involved in reporting traumatic child abuse they experienced prior to being in care.”

“WCTU calls for political intervention from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Norma Foley and for public representatives across the area to work together to retain these vital services within the public sector.”

WCTU stated “the outage felt by Workers within the services must be acknowledged across Waterford, Wexford and South Kilkenny. TUSLA Management must engage meaningfully on this matter and see the negative impact this defunding decision will have on the most vulnerable children in our society.”