Vol. 417 No. 7
114 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health the number of assessments which have been completed to date on the suitability of persons to adopt abroad within each health board area; the number of family assessment reports in respect of such adoptions furnished to date by each health board to the adoption board; and the proposals, if any, he has to ensure health boards comply with their obligations under the Adoption Act, 1991.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department in respect of all the health boards. It is being collected from the health boards and will be transmitted to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The health boards are endeavouring to fulfill their statutory duties under the Adoption Act, 1991. All of them are undertaking work in relation to foreign adoption assessments. While the imposition of these duties and the initial rush of applications for assessments has given rise to difficulties for some boards, the boards concerned are taking all reasonable measures to address those problems.
