asked the Minister for Justice the name, address and number of all adoption agencies and societies in the State; the official or other status of each such agency and society; the degree of accountability to his or other Departments or semi-State bodies of each such agency and society; the degree of public funding each such agency and society receives; the number of adoptions for each of the last ten years facilitated by such agencies and societies; whether there is any common criteria or code of standards operated by such agencies and societies; and whether any such criteria or code has the approval of his Department; and if he has any proposals for updating present legislation or regulations in these respects.
Written Answers. - Adoption Societies.
271.
There are 20 registered adoption societies, of which 15 are voluntary agencies and five are under the aegis of the health boards.
In accordance with section 36 of the Adoption Act, 1952, adoption societies must be registered with An Bord Uchtála. The board may cancel the registration of any society in accordance with the provisions of section 37 of that Act.
The health board societies are accountable to and financed by the health boards. The financing of voluntary adoption societies is a matter for themselves. Since 1974, however, grants have been paid annually by my Department to the voluntary societies, the main purpose being to enable them to employ more qualified social workers. The grants are paid subject to the condition that the societies keep annual accounts which may be inspected by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The names and addresses of all the societies together with their status and the total grants paid to each of the voluntary societies is set out on the attached tabular statement. Details of the number of adoption orders made and the societies concerned are set out in the Annual Reports of An Bord Uchtála which are available in the Library.
Standards cannot be assured simply by regulation. The board has guidelines in relation to the procedures to be followed by adoption societies and it has power to cancel the registration of any society if it is not satisfied that the society is competent to discharge the obligations imposed on it by the Act.
Any proposal for changes in legislation in this or any other area will be announced by me at the proper time.
|
Name and Address of Society |
Status |
Total Grants Paid since 1974 |
|
£ |
||
|
St. John's Adoption Society, |
Voluntary |
14,150 |
|
Parochial House, |
||
|
Butlerstown, |
||
|
Waterford. |
||
|
Sacred Heart Adoption Society, Bessboro, Cork. |
Voluntary |
39,050 |
|
St. Mura's Adoption Society, |
Voluntary |
18,100 |
|
Fahan, |
||
|
Lifford, |
||
|
Co. Donegal |
||
|
Protestant Adoption Society, |
Voluntary |
18,575 |
|
71 Brighton Road, |
||
|
Rathgar |
||
|
Dublin 6. |
||
|
St. Clare's Adoption Society, |
Voluntary |
20,625 |
|
Stamullen, |
||
|
Co. Mealth. |
||
|
St. Attracta's Adoption Society, St. Mary's Cathedral, Sligo |
Voluntary |
1,600 |
|
Catholic Protection and Rescue, |
Voluntary |
109,060 |
|
Society of Ireland, |
||
|
30 South Anne Street, |
||
|
Dublin 2. |
||
|
St. Brigid's Adoption Society, |
Voluntary |
25,150 |
|
68 Iona Road, |
||
|
Dublin 9. |
||
|
Rotunda Girls' Aid Society, 82 Marlboro Street, Dublin 1. |
Voluntary |
34,510 |
|
St. Patrick's Guild, |
Voluntary |
55,650 |
|
82 Haddington Road, |
||
|
Dublin 4. |
||
|
St. Anne's Adoption Society, Assumption Convent, Blackpool, Cork. |
Voluntary |
36,860 |
|
Ossory Adoption Society, c/o Sion House, Kilkenny |
Voluntary |
23,430 |
|
St. Catherine's Adoption Society, Bank Place, Ennis, Co. Clare. |
Voluntary |
15,640 |
|
Cairdeas Adoption Society, 20 Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2. |
Voluntary |
Nil |
|
St. Therese Adoption Society, Carmelite Priory, Whitefriar Street, Dublin 8. |
Voluntary |
Nil |
|
Limerick Catholic Adoption Society, 39 Catherine Street, Limerick |
Health Board |
|
|
St. Louise Adoption Society, |
Health Board |
|
|
1 James's Street, |
||
|
Dublin 8. |
||
|
St. Mary's Adoption Society, |
Health Board |
|
|
New Road, |
||
|
Bridge Street, |
||
|
Tralee, |
||
|
Co. Kerry. |
||
|
St. Nicholas's Adoption Society, Hibernian House, |
Health Board |
£ |
|
Eyre Square, |
||
|
Galway. |
||
|
St. Kevin's Adoption Society, |
Health Board |
|
|
Arus Brugha, |
||
|
Dungarvan, |
||
|
Co. Waterford. |