Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Foreign Adoptions.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

1223 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting times for applicants for foreign adoptions in each health board area; the strategy he has in plan to deal with the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17496/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Difficulties have arisen in inter-country adoption assessment waiting times due to increased demand for assessment combined with problems in recruiting social workers. Efforts are being made to deal with the current shortage of social workers by recruiting internationally and by increasing the number of training places nationally.

Over the last four years additional funding of €2,101,000 has been allocated to assist the health boards improve the service and reduce waiting times. During 1999 a standardised framework for inter-country adoption assessment was introduced to streamline assessments and to provide a transparent system centred on the child's best interests and respectful to all the parties involved. The framework, which is being used in all health boards has been welcomed by the boards and couples.

Significant reductions in waiting times have been achieved and all health boards are committed to continuing improvements. My Department collects statistics from each of the health boards in respect of inter-country adoption at the end of every quarter. The latest quarter for which information is available is end of June 2002. Table 1 shows the projected waiting times for first assessment, such as time from receipt of completed application to the expected beginning of preparation stage for applicants who applied at 30 June 2002 compared to the projected waiting time at 30 June 2000.

Health Board	30 June 2000	30 June 2002
ERHA	36 - 42 mths	18 mths
MHB	10 mths	Laois/Offaly*Longford/Westmeath - 8 mths
MWHB	30 mths	9 - 18 mths
NEHB	13 mths	9 - 12 mths
NWHB	6 - 12 mths	5 mths
SEHB	12 - 18 mths	18 mths
SHB	18 mths	9.5 mths
WHB	4 - 6 mths	6 - 9 mths
PACT	1½ - 6 mths	12 weeks

* The projected waiting time was not available at end June.