Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I move amendment No. 41:

In page 31, line 28, after "section 37(1)," to insert the following:

"or to an accredited committee or body on behalf of the Executive".

We had a comprehensive discussion on this. The Bill appears to state that all applications for assessment must be made to the HSE, which currently manages over 90% of assessments and has presided over the growth of waiting times to start an assessment to over three years in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The waiting times are awful. People must wait up to five years to be processed through a system that ultimately involves 30 hours of contact with the social worker. Assessments should be robust and should allow for preparation and reflection by the applicants. Anyone who thinks of adopting three times could have to wait 15 years. Provision should be made for accredited agencies, which could conduct such assessments. However, all applications must be made to the HSE and all assessments must be passed back to the HSE placement committee. Effectively, this discourages the establishment of any assessment agency because its sustainability and efficiency would be dictated by the HSE. While regulation is not as pristine a term as it was a few months ago, the Adoption Board would regulate assessments and is the final authority in granting declarations. Assessments by accredited organisations should be directly routed to independent placement committees and applicants should have the opportunity to apply directly to any accredited agency.