Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:244 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the huge delay in interviewing applicants for adoption in the Kerry area (details supplied). [13055/99]
Written Answers. - Inter-country Adoptions.
The consultants' report on assessment for inter-country adoption shows that the Southern Health Board has the highest level of applications for adoption of all health boards, with 23 per cent of first applications for inter-country adoption coming to this board in 1998. The number of couples currently on the waiting list in the Southern Health Board area is 160 of whom 17 are from Kerry. The board, in recognition of the increasing waiting list, recently appointed three additional social workers to the adoption service, bringing the total number of staff employed in the service to 6.5, with 1.5 of these based in Kerry.
I am currently examining the recommendations of the consultants' report on assessment for inter-country adoption. The consultants propose a wide range of measures, including a standardised framework for inter-country adoption assessment. I will be following up on these recommend ations with the health boards and I am confident that their implementation will result in a more efficient and effective adoption service.