Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
185 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to delays of up to three years for persons hoping to adopt children to obtain a place on a preparation course; his views on whether this is very unfair, in particular for middle aged persons; and the steps he proposes to improve the situation. [18293/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA standardised framework for intercountry adoption assessment was introduced in 1999 to streamline assessments and to provide a transparent system to assess the suitability of applicants to adopt a child, centred on the child's best interests. When introduced, the framework was welcomed both by health boards and prospective adopters, and it is regarded very highly in countries from which Irish people adopt. The framework is being implemented nationally.
Assessments for intercountry and domestic adoptions are carried out by health boards or by registered adoption societies. At the outset of the process, applicants are placed on a health board/adoption society waiting list for assessment. The waiting list for assessment varies throughout the country. The assessment process itself involves a number of stages and would generally include an initial assessment, a considerable level of education/preparation work (including an exploration with prospective adoptive parents of the challenges and issues that are likely to arise when undertaking adoption) and a home study assessment. The length of the process can vary between applicants depending on the particular circumstances of each case, bearing in mind at all times the best interests of the child.
The length of time it takes to complete the necessary assessment and the allocation of resources within the health board is a matter for the management of each individual health board.
