Vol. 417 No. 1
216 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the provisions of the Adoption Act, 1991, which allow for single people to adopt are being interpreted by the Adoption Board as pertaining only to existing situations where there is already a relationship between the single persons and the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Statutory responsibility for determining the eligibility of every applicant for an adoption order rests with the Adoption Board. I have no function in the matter.
The general position in relation to the eligibility of a single person is that, since the enactment of the Adoption Act, 1991, the Adoption Board may make an adoption order in favour of such a person where the board are satisfied that this is desirable in the particular circumstances of the case.
