Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the very long waiting times for initial assessment in inter-country adoption cases and to the nature of distress this causes; and the way in which this matter will be remedied. [14926/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for inter-country adoption are processed by the Health Service Executive, HSE, under the Adoption Acts 1952-1998, as amended by the Health Act 2004. The length of time it takes to complete the necessary assessment and the allocation of resources within the HSE is a matter for the management of the HSE. However, 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.