Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 2

Written Answers. - Adoption Services.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

111 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he intends to take to alleviate the disturbingly long waiting lists for adoption assessments in the Eastern Health Board area; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to tackle this issue. [15887/97]

Liz McManus

Question:

112 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will have investigations made into the long delays being experienced by people in the Eastern Health Board catchment area who wish to adopt foreign babies and have to wait a number of years for assessments to begin; if he will facilitate the appointment of additional staff to speed up procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15888/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.

The Adoption Act, 1991, imposed a statutory duty on health boards to carry out, as soon as practicable, assessments for foreign adoptions. In carrying out this function, the boards must have regard to the competing demands in other areas of the child care services, particularly in relation to the protection of children from abuse and neglect, which takes priority over all other work. However, that said, I understand that prospective adopters in the Eastern Health Board area are experiencing significant delays in having adoption assessments commenced in comparison with applicants in other boards. Officials of my Department are currently discussing the matter with the Eastern Health Board with a view to ascertaining the measures, if any, which could be taken in order to alleviate the delay.