David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to raise this issue and I am pleased that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is in the House to discuss it with me. This matter came to my attention a short while ago when two parents came to see me. They had adopted a baby a number of years ago from a foreign country in quite poor conditions. The parents were very loving and caring, loved their daughter and provided her with everything, as one would expect, but when she reached puberty things began to go wrong. She began to self-harm, developed an eating disorder and exhibited regression and other behaviours which were very disturbing. Obviously they sought assistance, and after quite a period a diagnosis was made that the child was suffering from post-adoption trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health problems suffered by adopted children as a result of being put forward for adoption. Not every adopted child experiences these symptoms or issues. It is related to a child being separated from his or her biological mother at a very young age. These parents eventually discovered that they had to go to an agency in the UK which provided the specialist services needed, and progress was made, but it is a slow and painful process for everybody concerned.

I have a number of questions for the Minister in this regard. Has her attention been drawn to this post-adoption trauma issue? Has any research been carried out in this country on it? I have been informed that there are currently more than 300 referrals from this country to that agency in the UK. I have also been informed that there is not any specific service here to treat this condition. I am informed that intensive psychological therapy and counselling of a very specialist nature is needed to assist families and that not only the child but the family as a whole must receive assistance and support in cases such as this one.

I have checked with the HSE and other bodies and I have been informed that they do not provide this form of intensive therapy, which, given that families have to travel to the UK to avail of it, is quite expensive and traumatic. Will the Minister consider officially engaging private or charitable organisations outside the State to provide this level of service or to train people here in this level of service? I understand it is not possible to access that travel abroad scheme in such cases, even though the service is not available here. I have had it confirmed in writing from the HSE that the intense level of service is not available in Ireland.

I am sure the Minister will agree that this is a traumatic and serious condition. Thankfully, it does not affect every family with an adopted child, but the families who are affected need assistance and support. I am pleased that the Minister has come into the House to hear me speak on this matter and I would be grateful, following this debate, if she would arrange for this issue to be researched and examined to see what can be done in the Department and the health service to assist families who find themselves in this position.

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