Vol. 554 No. 5
1183 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applicants in County Kerry awaiting assessment for domestic adoption and inter-country adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17071/02]
I have been advised by the Southern Health Board that there are currently 19 applications on the waiting list for inter-country adoption assessment and three applications on the waiting list for domestic adoption in Kerry. The number of domestic adoptions, other than family adoptions, has decreased enormously in recent years. In 2000 only six adoption orders were made by the Adoption Board for children placed with families by the Southern Health Board. The reduction in domestic adoptions reflects the decrease in the number of children available for adoption.
Agencies and health boards generally assess a small number of couples based on their estimate of the number of children likely to become available for adoption. There is no guarantee that a couple on the domestic waiting list will ever have a child placed with them. Assessments are carried out as the need arises and health boards normally advise couples where the chance of a domestic placement is low. I understand that some couples then opt to be assessed for inter-country adoption instead.
