I refer the Deputy to the replies I gave to the House on 23 November and 14 December 1999 in relation to the waiting times for assessment for inter-country adoption at the end of 1998. I have previously informed the House of the additional £213,000 which was allocated to the Eastern Health Board in mid-1999 following the publication of the report Towards a Standardised Framework for Inter-country Adoption Assessment Procedures. A further £500,000 has been allocated to the health boards in the year 2000 on the basis of waiting lists at end September, 1999 and £236,000 of the total has been allocated to the Eastern Health Board. The total additional funding for the Eastern Health Board over this period therefore amounts to £449,000, which represents almost a doubling of the budget for inter-country adoption services.
The board has advised that the standardised framework approach, set out in the report on assessment procedures, will be commencing this month through the provision of the new format preparation courses. In addition, the board has made arrangements for the provision of improved accommodation, information technology and administrative support for inter-country adoption services. These initiatives should help to streamline the assessment process and increase throughput. Together with an increased complement of social workers these measures should bring about a significant increase in the number of assessments being completed in the board in 2000.
However, I am aware that the recruitment of social workers is a particular difficulty in the Eastern Health Board and that adverse media attention on the inter-country adoption service has undoubtedly been a contributing factor. Despite other initiatives which the board has taken to improve the service to applicants for inter-country adoption, the availability, recruitment and retention of appropriately qualified staff will be a key element in bringing waiting times to an acceptable level. It should be noted that the board is in regular contact with parent representative groups involved in inter-country adoption who are being kept fully informed of developments.