John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 42: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for assessment of couples for adoption; the current time periods for each health board and Health Service Executive region for the period waiting for first assessment and from application to completion of process; if the assessment process is standard or varies from region to region; the person who recommends same; if it can be streamlined and shortened with fewer sessions prior to approval; the number of social workers involved; if extra staff are employed; if the process can be contracted out; and if she will provide data on the Eastern Regional Health Authority-Health Service Executive region. [5357/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for inter-country adoption are processed by the Health Services Executive under the Adoption Acts 1952-1998, as amended by the Health Act 2004.

The process of assessment of applicants for inter-country assessment is set out in a framework for inter-country assessment introduced in 1999 to streamline assessments and to provide a transparent system centred on the child's best interests. It involves a number of stages and includes an initial assessment, a considerable level of education-preparation work, including an exploration with prospective adoptive parents of the challenges and issues that are likely to arise when undertaking adoption, and a home study assessment. The length of the assessment process can vary between applicants depending on the particular circumstances of each case.

The length of time it takes to complete the necessary assessment and the allocation of resources within the Health Service Executive is a matter for the management of the executive. I have asked the adoption board to identify practical measures to tackle the waiting lists of inter-country assessments.