John McGuinness
Ceist:381 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is a waiting list within the South-Eastern Health Board area of 15 to 18 months for assessments for couples who wish to apply for foreign adoptions; the number of full-time social workers who have been engaged since 1998 to deal with this matter; the amount of money the Department allocated to the South-Eastern Health Board to assist in dealing with this matter; the steps which will be taken to deal with the waiting list; if he will expedite an assessment for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and the reason this person has had to wait so long. [26199/01]