Vol. 512 No. 6
219 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the implementation by his Department's proposals of the Hague Convention go beyond the convention's proposals by restricting adoptions to Hague Convention countries or to countries where the Government has a bilateral agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26722/99]
As I outlined to the House on 20 October and 9 November 1999 the ratification of the Hague Convention will involve major and fundamental amendment of our inter-country adoption laws. The primary objectives of the convention are to provide safeguards to prevent the abduction or the sale of children and to establish a system of co-operation amongst countries in order to ensure that inter-country adoptions take place in the best interests of the children concerned. Accordingly a child-centred approach incorporating structures and procedures which accord with good practice in inter-country adoption is being taken to the preparation of the legislation.
The Deputy's question refers to future policy regarding recognition of non-convention adoptions after the legislation to ratify the Hague Convention has been introduced. This issue is not covered by the actual provisions of the Hague Convention. As the Deputy has indicated it is not the intention to exclude any countries with which we already have agreements or working arrangements in place which uphold the spirit and principles of the convention. However, the matter is still under examination and final decisions in regard to this matter have not yet been taken.
220 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will outlaw the carrying out of assessments by private agencies of inter-country adoptions in view of the waiting times involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26723/99]
Under the existing legislation adoption assessments may be carried out by health boards and adoption societies registered with the Adoption Board. Any society may apply to the Adoption Board for registration under the Adoption Act, 1952, sections 34 to 39, as amended, which prescribe the criteria to be met for registration. One such society, PACT, is currently carrying out assessments for inter-country adoption.
The accreditation of competent bodies for example, adoption agencies and societies to undertake certain tasks such as assessment for inter-country adoption will be considered in the context of the proposed legislation to ratify the Hague Convention. I should point out that in view of the recent increases in staff assigned to inter-country adoption assessment, as well as the introduction of a standardised framework for assessment there should be a significant increase in the number of assessments being completed during the year 2000.
221 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the waiting times for assessment for inter-country adoptions in the Eastern Health Board area are at an acceptable level; his views on whether immediate action needs to be taken in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26724/99]
I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to the House on 23 November 1999 in relation to the waiting times for assessment for inter-country adoption at the end of 1998. I have previously informed the House of the additional £213,000 which was allocated to the Eastern Health Board in 1999 following the publication of the report ‘Towards a Standardised Framework for Inter-country Adoption Assessment Procedures'. A further £500,000 has been allocated to the health boards in the year 2000 on the basis of waiting lists at end September, 1999, £236,000 of which has been allocated to the Eastern Health Board. The total additional funding for the Eastern Health Board amounts to £449,000 which represents an increase of 93% in funding over a short period.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to the House on 4 November 1999 in relation to recruitment of social workers and the initiatives which the Eastern Health Board has taken to improve the service to applicants for inter-country adoption.
In addition the working group which has been established has begun the work of prioritising and planning implementation of the report's recommendations.
Along with the additional funding allocated to the inter-country adoption service, training in the standardised framework model for assessment has begun. A three day seminar for all social workers in inter-country adoption was held at the end of November. Interim guidance documents were circulated and a detailed training manual will be commissioned early in the new year. The board has advised that the standardised framework approach to assessment will commence in January 2000 through the provision of preparation courses in the first instance with a view to commencing the standardised home study in April 2000 approximately.
Arising from the increase in staff assigned to assessment, the initiatives which the board has taken and the introduction of the standardised framework mode, it is hoped that there will be a significant increase in the number of assessments being completed in the board in the year 2000.
