Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - Foreign Adoptions.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

120 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications for assessment for foreign adoptions in the Southern Health Board area; the average length of waiting time for assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15942/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

As outlined in the following table the total number of applications currently awaiting assessment in the Southern Health Board is 165. Most of these applications – 142 – were received in the years 1999 and 2000 with 23 applications on the waiting list since 1998.

Date of receipt of application	Number of applicationsawaiting assessment
1998	23
1999	94
2000 (to date)	48
Total	165

The average waiting time for assessment in the Southern Health Board region has been reducing and is currently estimated at 18 months. In June 1999 following the publication of the report, Towards a Standardised Framework for Intercountry Adoption Assessment Procedures, additional funding was allocated to the health boards on the basis of the waiting lists at December 1998. Some £108,000 was allocated to the Southern Health Board. On the basis of the waiting lists at September 1999 the board was allocated an additional £113,000 for this year.

The additional funding has been used to recruit additional social workers and administrative staff. The number of social workers has increased from 3.5 to 9.5. In addition, the board has improved office accommodation and administrative supports have been put in place. The board anticipates that as a result of these measures an ongoing reduction in the waiting time for assessment will be achieved. I am satisfied that the measures already taken by the board and the increase in the number of assessments per social worker arising from the new assessment model will result in a continued increase in the number of assessments being completed in the board this year.