Seán Power
Question:449 Mr. S. Power asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the financial benefits available to adoptive parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2440/03]
Written Answers. - Adoption Services.
The adoptive benefit scheme provides a weekly payment to adopting parents who are either employed or self-employed and is designed to support them during a period of adoptive leave.
Qualification for adoptive benefit requires that the claimant has first established an entitlement to adoptive leave and the duration of adoptive benefit is contingent on the duration of the appropriate leave. Responsibility for adoptive leave falls under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The weekly rate of payment is 70% of the recipient's gross weekly earnings in the relevant tax income year, subject to a minimum rate per week of €141.60 and a maximum weekly rate of €232.40. In 2002, a total of 215 clients received adoptive benefit at a cost of €578,000.
A number of improvements have been made to the adoptive benefit scheme since its introduction in 1995. In 1997 the scheme was extended to self employed contributors. The duration of adoptive leave was extended by four weeks from February 2001 and adopting parents are now entitled to 14 weeks adoptive leave.
I understand that the Adoptive Leave Act is currently under review by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. As the adoptive benefit scheme is directly related to adoptive leave, the results of that review will be examined by my own Department to determine if any consequential changes to the adoptive benefit scheme are required.