Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received a report from local health authorities on the average delay for a parent wishing to undertake an adoption overseas; if she will consider contracting out this work under health board supervision in order that it may be completed without having to absorb the time of child care workers within the public health service in the same way as legal authorisations have been completed under contract for other public agencies; and if she will make a statement on her Department's immediate plans to deal with this problem. [11655/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for inter-country adoption are processed by the Health Services Executive, HSE, under the Adoption Acts 1952 to 1998, as amended by the Health Act 2004. The process of assessment of applicants for inter-country adoption 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 would generally include: an initial assessment; a considerable level of education or 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, bearing in mind at all times the best interests of the child. Applicants found to be suitable to be adoptive parents are granted a declaration of suitability by the adoption board and may then pursue the adoption of a child abroad with the selected sending country. It should be noted that difficulties may arise in sending countries which can also cause delay.

The length of time to complete the necessary assessment and the allocation of resources within the HSE is a matter for the management of the HSE. I have asked the Adoption Board to identify practical measures to tackle the waiting lists of inter-country assessments. The board has initiated discussions with the HSE on the matter and I look forward to receiving these proposals.