Safety
The Community Care section of the HSE is particularly concerned about this rise in vulnerable children
being referred for social work services. They sense that if the family unit they are seeing had, had access to
a holistic set of preventative supports collaboratively provided by local service providers that they may
never have had to see those families. However, this type of service is not available in Kilkenny City.
The Kilkenny RAPID Area Implementation Team (AIT) recognised this concern and included the need to
increase support for families living in RAPID areas into their Family Supports Implementation Plan 2008.
A proposal was submitted to the HSE setting out the rationale for the absolute need and viability of a
Springboard project for Kilkenny City run by Barnardos. This proposal has been developed and agreed by
a representative steering group of statutory and community agencies in the city.
