Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1991

Vol. 413 No. 9

Written Answers. - Foreign Adoption Assessments.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

236 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health when the training of social workers employed by the health boards, as promised under the Adoptions Act, 1991, will take place having regard to the intolerable delays being caused to prospective adoptive parents who wish to adopt babies born outside the jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The question of the training of social workers to undertake foreign adoption assessments only arises in the case of those health boards which have not traditionally operated an adoption service and which have been unable to carry out such assessments on their behalf. My Department are in regular contact with the boards concerned and are closely monitoring the situation.