Sir, - In response to the letter from the IMPACT trade union (July 31st), I would like to apologise if comments of mine were interpreted as an attack on social workers and thereby caused any upset. Given the work I do, I am in almost daily contact with social workers who give of their best in very difficult and frustrating circumstances. My criticisms are, and always have been, of the childcare system in which social workers are unfortunately in the front line.
They are overworked and priority is given, not to homeless 16- or 17-year-olds, but to very young children and victims of sexual abuse, as indeed it should be. They are not usually in a position to give substantial time to being with homeless young people, which is often what these young people need. They are often unable to access suitable - or any - accommodation for homeless young people because such accommodation does not exist. Therefore the anger and distrust which young people rightly feel towards the system is transferred to social workers, who are the human face which the system presents to these young people.
I have the greatest admiration for social workers and the work they do. I have no criticism of their dedication or commitment or of the quality of their work. They are, unfortunately, forbidden to speak out publicly about the problems and frustrations which they encounter. My criticisms of a very dysfunctional and inadequate childcare system and the role that social workers have to play within that system are echoed (silently!) by many social workers themselves. - Yours, etc.,
Fr Peter McVerry SJ, Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, Upper Sherrard Street, Dublin 1.