Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011
515 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the waiting time for the release of adoption documentation to adoptees in the Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31379/11]
View answer516 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will investigate the case of an adoptee (details supplied) who is still waiting on the release of documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31380/11]
View answer517 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way and where a person may access medical records relevant to a period spent in an institution (details supplied) prior to adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31419/11]
View answer527 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the adoption files are now available from Bessborough and the Health Service Executive; if adoptees have been granted access to the files; if there is a delay in granting access; and if so, the action being taken by the HSE to speed up this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31482/11]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 515 to 517, inclusive, and 527 together.
Following talks with the HSE, the Sacred Heart Order and officials from my Department, the HSE agreed to take responsibility for the adoption files of the Sacred Heart Adoption Society located in Bessborough, Blackrock, Co. Cork. In announcing this, the HSE stated that as and from the 1st of August 2011, the HSE Adoption Service has agreed to take over the management of the adoption files. Issues in relation to accessing these files, including issues of waiting times and access to medical records, should be directed to the HSE Regional Adoption Service, St. Stephens Hospital, Glanmire, Co. Cork.
518 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that funding for bodies facilitating adoption be channelled by the Health Service Executive to accredited adoption services and particularly to the Arc Adoption service as the only accredited inter-country adoption service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30761/11]
View answerUnder the Adoption Act, 2010, only accredited agencies can provide adoption services. My Department does not have a dedicated funding stream in relation to accredited agencies providing adoption services. The allocation of HSE funding is a matter for the Executive.
