Gay Mitchell
Question:212 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will direct that foreign adoption procedures are expedited; and if he will make a statement as to the reason there are long waiting lists. [29367/00]
Written Answers. - Adoption Services.
I wish to refer the Deputy to my replies in the House of 14 November [25705/00] 22 November 2000 [26951/00] and 28 November 2000 [27589/00]. I have already referred, in some detail, to the initiatives which have been taken at national level and in each health board in relation to inter-country adoption assessment. The statistical data provided shows the considerable progress made in this area in the last year. I am making a copy of the report of the group charged with implementing the recommendations of the report Towards a Standardised Framework for Intercountry Adoption Assessment Procedures available to the Deputy.
In relation to the reasons for long waiting lists for assessment, I wish to refer the Deputy to chapter 1 sections 1.1 and 1.2 of the report, pages 5-6, chapter 6, which contains statistical data for the service, pages 43-52; and chapter 7, which refers to the implementation group's findings and includes a commentary on the waiting lists and planning for the future in a demand led service where demand is somewhat unpredictable, pages 55-56.
The Deputy will note from the statistics available that there were already more applications for assessment up to the end of September 2000 this year than in the total of 1999. Notwithstanding this trend, the national waiting list showed a marginal drop in the last quarter, September 2000. I am satisfied that the initiatives already taken have brought about improvements in the nature and duration of assessment, as well as waiting times. I am optimistic that despite the increase in the number of applications this year that this trend will continue. It is in view of the continuing increase in demand that I have also had an additional £360,000 made available to health boards in 2001. This additional funding has been allocated with reference to waiting lists in each health board area.