Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2012
624 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her budget allocation for the staffing and administrative costs of the processing of domestic adoptions in 2011 and 2012. [10595/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe domestic adoption process in Ireland is managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI). Persons may apply in the first instance to the HSE for an assessment of eligibility and suitability to adopt. The HSE will undertake such an assessment and prepare a report for consideration by an Adoption Committee. The Adoption Committee is established by the HSE under Section 36 of the Adoption Act, 2010. The Committee makes a recommendation to the AAI on the suitability of the applicant. The Authority, following consideration of the recommendation of the Adoption Committee will make a determination on whether to issue a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt. Much of the preparatory process work is undertaken by the HSE with appropriate guidance from the AAI, which is the ultimate decision maker in determining eligibility and suitability. The cost of providing this service is met from within the respective financial allocations to the AAI and the HSE. In the case of the AAI the cost is met from within the Authority's overall allocation of €3.3 million in 2012. I have asked the HSE to provide an estimate of the cost of this service and I will revert to the Deputy on the matter.
625 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of domestic adoption applications currently being processed by the Health Service Executive; and on average the length of time since the applicant families first submitted their applications. [10596/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe umbrella term of domestic adoption encompasses a number of different types of adoption, including a very small number of infant placements with non-familial applicants, step-parent/family adoptions and the adoption of children in long term foster care by their foster parents. The domestic adoption process in all of its forms is inherently complex due to a variety of factors including constitutional and legal requirements in relation to the placement of children, the requirement to consult birth fathers and consent requirements. Each individual case presents a unique set of circumstances and issues to be addressed. For this reason it is not possible to provide any reliable average length of time for the process. However, the HSE estimates that the process may take up to 8 months, depending on the individual circumstances of the case. I have been advised by the Adoption Authority of Ireland that in 2010 there were 153 applications received and 189 Orders made for domestic adoptions. In 2011 there were 47 applications and 39 Orders made for domestic adoptions.
626 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the Health Service Executive is delaying the domestic adoption of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1. [10598/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
