Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

In recent days couples who would like to adopt a child, at home or abroad, have expressed grave concern about the length of time it takes them to be assessed for their suitability as adoptive parents. They attribute the delay to the lack of social workers. This process is traumatic for adoptive parents but it takes anything up to four years, longer in some cases, to go through the process. If the provision of social workers would help speed that up something should be done about it. We need social workers in other areas too. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister to come to the House to outline how she can ease the difficulties facing would-be adoptive parents and see what can be done to improve their situation?