Yesterday's Budget will leave CYFS under increasing pressure to care for children with inadequate resources, National's
Social Services spokesperson Bob Simcock said today.
"The extra $37million allocated to CYFS in the Budget may be welcome but it is simply insufficient to do the job
demanded by Judge Mick Brown's report. After this budget CYFS will still not be able to deliver the standard of service
expected by the community.
"In the first two budgets under this Labour Government CYFS income increased by $18million and now $37million. That
amounts to a 16% increase over two years.
"In the same period the demand for CYFS services has gone up by over 20%. Allowing for the fact that inflation will have
eroded about 5% of the increase, CYFS is being given an 11% increase in cash to deal with an over 20% increase in
demand.
"By contrast, in the last two years of the National Government CYFS received an increase of $121million or 53%.
"Judge Mick Brown recommended that funding for CYFS should reflect the level of demand. In this budget it doesn't.
"Today many social workers will be encouraged to hear that there is extra money for CYFS, but in coming months they will
find that their workload doesn't get any easier. That means children will continue to miss out on the services they
need," said Mr Simcock.
Ends