Vol. 513 No. 1
374 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications made by persons to become foster patents in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; the number of successful applications; the number of applications made by persons to adopt during this period; the number of successful applications; his views on the development of foster care and adoption facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1021/00]
My Department does not collect the data required by the Deputy in relation to the number of applications made by persons to become foster parents, however, I am having inquiries made of the health boards and once the information becomes available it will be furnished to the Deputy. I regret that the statistical information requested on adoption is not collated by my Department and I would refer the Deputy to the annual reports of the Adoption Board for 1997 and 1998. The board's annual report for 1999 will not be available until later this year. These reports, which are available from the Government Publications Office, are most informative and give very detailed statistical data on adoption under a wide range of headings. With regard to developments in adoption, I have made a number of statements to the House in recent months, detailing the legislation in preparation in my Department on adoption information, post-adoption contact and associated issues and the ratification of the Hague Convention on inter-country adoption. I would refer the Deputy to the replies set out in response to the following parliamentary questions:
|
Question No. |
Answered On |
|
219 |
14/12/99 |
|
265, 278, 283 & 285 |
9/11/99 |
|
124 |
20/10/99 |
|
90 |
7/10/99 |
|
156 |
30/6/99 |
