Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Written Answers. - Adoption Services.

Liam Aylward

Question:

177 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will have additional social workers appointed in the South Eastern Health Board area to deal in particular with assessments of the suitability of couples for adoption where there is a waiting list of four years and couples are concerned that they will have exceeded the age guideline laid down by his Department for adoption due to the backlog. [14545/99]

John McGuinness

Question:

178 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is a two year delay in the South Eastern Health Board area for assessment for adoption purposes; if he will fund extra staff to deal with tracing assessment and bi-monthly reports; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the excessive delay prevents couples from adopting a second child for periods up to two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14561/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

Adoption services in the South-Eastern Health Board area are provided by SEEK Regional Adoption Services which forms part of the board's community care programme. There are 38 applicants currently on the waiting list for adoption assessment in the South-Eastern Health Board area and the waiting period varies from approximately one year in the South Tipperary area, where there are five applicants on the waiting list, to three years in the Carlow-Kilkenny area where there are 15 applicants on the waiting list. In appointing additional social workers the board gives priority to its child protection and foster care services in the first instance.

The South-Eastern Health Board considers it advisable for couples who wish to adopt a second child to wait for at least a year before making a second application for assessment as this allows the first child to settle into the new family and the couple to adjust to their changed circumstances. The second assessment carried out by the board is not as lengthy as the first and the board does not apply an upper age limit on applicants.

The issues raised by the Deputies are common to a number of health boards at present. As I have stated previously in the House, a consultancy report on the assessment procedures in inter-country adoption was commissioned at my request in order to examine these matters. I received the consultants' report on 28 April 1999 and I will be submitting it to Government in the very near future for a decision on publication and funding. The report contains many recommendations which will have the effect of streamlining and standardising the assessment process thus achieving greater efficiencies and a much higher output of assessments.