Waterford has one of Ireland's highest numbers of cases awaiting a social worker.
The number of child welfare and protection referrals made to Tusla in May was the highest it has been in over a year and a half, and there has also been a rise in the number of cases awaiting allocation to a social worker.
According to today's Examiner, the monthly report from the Child and Family Agency said 7,607 referrals were received in May.
This is 24% more than in April and 33% more than May 2021.
The areas with the highest number of cases awaiting social worker allocation were Dublin South-West, Kildare, and West Wicklow at 700. This was followed by Waterford/Wexford at 590.
The monthly report also shows a rise in the number of mandated reports received by Tusla.
Most mandated reports were lodged by Gardaí, teachers and social workers. However, 69 were made in May by the managers of domestic violence refuges, which has been the source of 306 reports in total in the year to the end of May.
The number of children in care did fall slightly in May. Cork was the area with the highest number of children in care.
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