Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports available for perspective Irish parents who are looking to adopt children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34347/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The supports available for prospective Irish parents who are looking to adopt children are those supplied by the HSE and agencies accredited under the Adoption Act 2010 and would include among other things pre-adoption counselling, advocacy, guidance and assistance in the assessment process. Following receipt of a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt, prospective adopters can also be supported by accredited agencies providing what are described as mediation services with regard to making arrangements for the adoption of a child. These services include contacting authorised agencies in the sending country, preparing pre-adoption reports under Article 20 of the Hague Convention and transmitting the adoption dossier to the Central Authority in the sending country. The delineation of all of these services and a regime for accreditation is a specific feature of the Adoption Act, 2010.