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Adoption Records Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 December 2013

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Questions (212)

Anne Ferris

Question:

212. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adoptees and the number of natural parents currently registered on the national adoption contact preference register; the number of matches made and communicated in the past 12 months; the average duration each person has been on the register and the average time spent on the register prior to a match being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54638/13]

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Written answers

The National Adoption Contact Register (NACPR) was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. They decide, through a range of information and contact options, how they wish to proceed. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for the operation of the Contact Preference Register. In 2007, the Adoption Board published a review of the operation of the Register from 2005 to 2007. This review contains detailed information about the register and is available on the Information and Tracing section of the Adoption Authority website (www.aai.gov.ie).

The Authority has stated that there are currently 7534 adopted persons and 3361 relatives registered. To date in 2013 there have been 69 matches. It should be noted that the NACPR is a contact preference register and not a tracing database. The Authority can only act on making a 'match' when two parties register and agree to contact.

The Authority, the Health Service Executive and accredited adoption services routinely inform enquirers about the existence of the register and encourage anyone interested in tracing or gaining information to sign up. I am conscious of recent media coverage of the issue of information and tracing and I would hope that this will encourage more birth mothers in particular to access the Contact Preference Register and where possible to consent to the release of information.

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