Vol. 543 No. 5
298 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the delays and the increase in the waiting lists for foreign adoptions here and particularly in the Eastern Region Health Authority area; the reason for the delays; and the way in which prospective parents can be facilitated while acknowledging the need for suitability assessment. [27500/01]
On 3 October 2001 – Parliamentary Question No. 428 – and 25 October 2001 – Parliamentary Question No. 64 – I outlined to the House the measures which are being taken by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the three area boards to reduce the waiting time for intercountry adoption in the region. It is expected that the two new units in the Northern and East Coast Area Boards will be fully operational by March 2002. I will continue to monitor the situation in relation to these new arrangements and anticipate that this initiative will be successful in dealing with the delays currently being experienced by the couples in the region. I have been advised by the ERHA that a letter is being sent to all applicants informing them of both the current and new arrangements including their position on the regional waiting list.
