Vol. 553 No. 5
268 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the frustration and heartbreak of families involved in long delays for inter-country adoptions in a number of health board areas due in some part to the shortage of social workers; and if he will be taking emergency measures to eliminate these unacceptable delays. [14908/02]
305 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the success of initiatives to shorten the waiting time for assessment for inter-country adoptions; and his target for the turnaround of such assessments. [14605/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 305 together.
Difficulties have arisen in inter-country adoption due to increased demand combined with problems in recruiting social workers. Efforts are being made to deal with the current shortage of social workers by recruiting internationally and by increasing the number of training places nationally. Approximately 30 additional social work training places have been created since October 2001 and it is planned to increase the number of places by in excess of 85 to be phased in from 2002.
Over the last four years a range of actions have been taken to assist the health boards improve the service, including allocation of €2,101,000 additional funding for the service nationally over the last four years, €830,000 of which was allocated to the Eastern Regional Health Authority area.
During 1999 a standardised framework for inter-country adoption assessment was introduced to streamline assessments and to provide a transparent system centred on the child's best interests and respectful to all the parties involved. The framework which is being used in all health boards has been welcomed by the boards and couples.
Significant reductions in waiting times have been achieved throughout the country, and all health boards are committed to continuing improvements. Table 1 shows the projected waiting times for first assessment, that is, time from receipt of completed application to the expected beginning of preparation stage for applicants who applied at 31 March 2002 compared to the projected waiting time at 30 June 2000.
|
HealthBoard |
30th June 2000 |
31st March 2002 |
|
ERHA |
36-42 months |
18-24 months* |
|
MHB |
10 months |
18 months Laois-Offaly6-12 monthsLongford-Westmeath |
|
MWHB |
30 months |
10-18 months |
|
NEHB |
13 months |
9-12 months |
|
NWHB |
6-12 months |
5 months |
|
SEHB |
12-18 months |
18 months |
|
SHB |
18 months |
8 months Cork9 months Kerry |
|
WHB |
4-6 months |
4-7 months Galway1-6 months Mayo-Roscommon |
|
PACT |
1-2 months |
7 weeks |
