I wish to refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 1223 on 9 October 2002, where I outlined the waiting times for assessment for intercountry adoption at end June 2002 compared to end June 2000, Table 1, and the measures that are being taken to continue the improvements that are already being made on the waiting times for assessment.
Table 1
HealthBoard
|
30th June 2000
|
30th June 2002
|
ERHA
|
36 - 42 months
|
18 months
|
|
|
|
MHB
|
10 months
|
Laois/Offaly*Longford/Westmeath - 8 months
|
|
|
|
MWHB
|
30 months
|
9 - 18 months
|
|
|
|
NEHB
|
13 months
|
9 - 12 months
|
|
|
|
NWHB
|
6 - 12 months
|
5 months
|
|
|
|
SEHB
|
12 - 18 months
|
18 months
|
|
|
|
SHB
|
18 months
|
9.5 months
|
|
|
|
WHB
|
4 - 6 months
|
6 - 9 months
|
|
|
|
PACT
|
1 - 2 months
|
12 weeks
|
*The projected waiting time was not available at end June.
Table 2 shows the number of applications from prospective adoptive parents on the waiting list at end June 2002 in each health board by year of application from 1998 to end June 2002. However, I would alert the Deputy to the fact that the number of applications on the waiting list for each year since 1998 includes deferred applications. The number of deferrals for each health board/agency is included in Table 2, although it is not possible to isolate the deferrals by year of application. Applications can be deferred by the applicants themselves or by the health board, depending on circumstances.
Table 2
Number of applications awaiting assessment, including deferrals, at end June 2002
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
Total
|
Number of deferrals at end June 2002
|
ERHA
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
271
|
188
|
459
|
131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MHB
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
24
|
9
|
41
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MWHB
|
0
|
7
|
20
|
30
|
52
|
109
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEHB
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
19
|
32
|
51
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NWHB
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
6
|
22
|
32
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEHB
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
59
|
48
|
108
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHB
|
25
|
27
|
29
|
24
|
83
|
188
|
96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHB
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
27
|
30
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PACT
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
18
|
14
|
34
|
4
|
Total
|
25
|
35
|
63
|
454
|
475
|
1,052
|
311
|
In conclusion, I would refer the Deputy to Table 1 which confirms the projected waiting times for applicants who applied at end June 2002. I am satisfied that significant reductions in waiting times have been achieved and that all health boards are committed to continuing improvements.