Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 3

Written Answers. - Adoption Requirements.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

219 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the guidelines for assessment of couples proposing to adopt either within Ireland or overseas include any recommendation with regard to the situation whereby one or both of the couple has a physical disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24289/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

The requirements laid down in section 13 of the Adoption Act, 1952, in regard to suitability of adopters are quite general: 13(i) The board shall not make an adoption order unless satisfied that the applicant is of good moral character, has sufficient means to support the child and is a suitable person to have parental rights and duties in respect of the child. 13(ii) Where the applicants are a married couple, the Board shall satisfy itself as to the moral character and suitability of each of them.

There are no specific references to disability in existing adoption board guidance on assessment of couples for adoption.

The assessment of prospective parents is carried out by health boards and adoption societies on behalf of the adoption board under our adop tion legislation. Each case for assessment is dealt with on its own merits. It is likely that a decision to place a child, in domestic adoption, or to recommend approval of a couple to adopt abroad would have regard to the nature and severity of a person's disability and the support systems available to the prospective adopters. These factors would be considered in the context of the couples general suitability.

I have spoken previously about the report Towards a Standardised Framework for Inter-Country Adoption Assessment Procedures. This report contains a detailed examination of the assessment process for inter-country adoption and makes recommendations for achieving a standardised process throughout the country. There are no recommendations in the report concerning applicants for adoption who have a physical disability.