Vol. 528 No. 2
157 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if copies of personal records and reports are made available on request to former inmates of orphanages including medical records; and if so, the reason requests made almost two years ago by a person (details supplied) in County Cork have not been dealt with. [30099/00]
My Department co-operates fully with all requests for personal information from former residents of orphanages or industrial schools, however, such information is extremely sparse. With regard to any earlier request for records, it has regrettably not been possible to locate the original papers in this regard. However, a search has been conducted of all information currently available in the Department and no information relating to the person in question was located. The Deputy may wish to contact the Department of Education and Science who have a large number of personal files relating to former residents of orphanages and industrial schools.
Legislation is currently under preparation in my Department which will provide inter alia for legislative structure and administrative procedures for access to information for people affected by adoption or by being placed in care. The draft scheme of this Bill will be submitted to Government shortly.
