Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I will correspond with the Deputy regarding the detailed questions he has asked but, as far as I am aware, the three agencies have not begun carrying out assessments. The reason for that is a number of policy issues must be decided. For example, the agencies have to be financed and the issue is where the financing will come from. Will it, for example, be provided by the HSE or will there be a system of fees for couples? If such a system was introduced, equality issues would have to be examined. However, those policy decisions are on the table. I will come back to the Deputy about developments in this regard.

The numbers of inter-country adoption applications are reducing significantly due to a number of factors, including the uncertainty regarding various countries, improved fertility treatments and reduced family incomes. A range of factors have had an impact on waiting times, which have reduced considerably around the country. For example, there is no waiting time for a second assessment with the HSE and, in the Dublin service area, covering Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow, there is no waiting time for a first or second assessment. If the Deputy has information to the contrary, I would be interested to hear from him but circumstances have changed.

When clarity is provided by the various countries, we can expect the number of applications will increase and the accredited agencies will have a role to play. It is up to the HSE to discuss whether in terms of priorities it might make a decision in discussions with me that these agencies should conduct adoption assessments as opposed to the executive. However, finance is an issue.

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