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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1985

Vol. 359 No. 3

Written Answers. - Adoption Regulations.

586.

asked the Minister for Health whether or not any formal regulations exist in relation to the criteria by which adoptions are made; and whether or not the size of the existing families or prospective adoptive families are determinant in the consideration of proposed adoptions.

The Adoption Board is responsible for the making of adoption orders, which it does in accordance with procedures and eligibility criteria set out in the Adoption Acts 1952 to 1976. However, the actual decision to place a child in respect of whom a couple may apply for an adoption order is a matter solely for registered adoption societies, health boards, or the natural mother who may place her own child with the adopter(s) direct.

In the case of the placement agencies i.e. societies and health boards, recommendations to place a child with a particular couple are basically a subjective judgement by the adoption worker involved, based on that person's knowledge training and experience and having regard to the agency's placement policy. Such recommendations are in turn subject to the scrutiny and approval of the placement agency's case committee.

Although there are no formal standard criteria set out in regulations, the size of existing families of prospective adoptive families would be amongst the factors considered by an agency in assessing their suitability to have a child for adoption. However, the weighting to be given to that factor would vary from one family to the next and consequently could not be described as a determining factor for all cases though it might be in some.

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