Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 5

Written Answers. - Inter-Country Adoptions.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

140 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the very long waiting time for couples for assessment of suitability to adopt a child, particularly in the Southern Health Board region; the plans, if any, he has to provide for increased staff in order to shorten the waiting time; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that in some cases couples may be deemed to be outside the age limit by the time they are assessed due to the fact they only discover fertility problems later in life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15699/99]

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

I am very much aware of the very long waiting period for inter-country adoption assessment in some health board areas, including the Southern Health Board. I am pleased to advise Deputy O'Sullivan that I received a Government decision last Tuesday, 15 June 1999 approving the publication of the consultancy report Towards a Standardised Framework for Inter-country Adoption Assessment Procedures. I will be making a detailed announcement in this regard shortly. The implementation of the report's recommendations will have the effect of streamlining and standardising the assessment process, thus achieving greater efficiencies and a much higher output of assessments.