Tusla says it needs 250 more social workers to deal with the backlog of cases of children at risk.

The child and family agency says more investment is needed, so it can move from being a surviving organisation - to a sustainable one.

The agency's CEO Gordon Jeyes was speaking about their 18 month review before the Oireachtas committee on health and children today.

He told Newstalk Lunchtime there are currently 2,000 priority cases, which would require 250 extra social workers - or €17m.