Vol. 526 No. 6
284 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the fact that people have to wait over three years to be assessed for foreign adoptions in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area, he will state his plans with regard to these long waiting lists; if he will allocate the responsibility to other agencies in order to have these assessments carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27589/00]
I refer the Deputy to my replies in the House of 14 November and 22 November 2000 in relation to the initiatives which have been taken at national level and in each health board in relation to intercountry adoption assessment. I am also making a copy of the report of the group charged with implementing the recommendations of the report Towards a Standardised Framework for Intercountry Adoption Assessment Procedures available to the Deputy.
I reiterate that the projected waiting time for assessment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, area at the end of September 2000 was 24 to 36 months. This had reduced since the end of June 2000. The ERHA anticipates that it will be able to reduce this waiting time further with the full introduction of the standardised framework for intercountry adoption. In addition, the number of social workers, whole time equivalent, carrying out assessments has increased from eight and a half to ten during this period and the board are currently pursuing an overseas recruitment drive. I am satisfied that the initiatives already taken have brought about improvements and that this trend will continue.
Under the existing legislation adoption assessments may be carried out by health boards and adoption societies registered with the Adoption Board. Any society may apply to the Adoption Board for registration under the Adoption Act, 1952, section 34 to 39, as amended, which prescribe the criteria to be met for registration. One such society is currently carrying out assessments for intercountry adoption and the ERHA has also arranged to fund this adoption society to carry out a small number of assessments on its behalf.
The accreditation of competent bodies, for example, adoption agencies-societies, to undertake certain tasks such as assessment for intercountry adoption will be considered in the context of the proposed legislation to ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and co-operation in respect of intercountry adoption.
