Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the approximate number of applications for inter-country adoptions currently outstanding; if it is correct that such applications are now taking over three to four years to process; and the practical measures which have been identified as indicated in earlier replies to tackle the waiting lists; and if these practical measures have been put in place. [26367/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent statistics available relate to numbers of applications on hand on 30 June 2005. At that time, the number of applications awaiting inter-country adoption assessment was 1,829. Currently, waiting times for assessment range from three to six months in the HSE north-west region to 45 months in the HSE mid-west region, with the average waiting time of approximately 18 months Factors that have affected the service and waiting lists include the increasing number of applicants, from 232 in 2000 to 1,033 in 2004, a three and a half fold increase in just five years; the significant increase in the number of post-placement reports resulting from the increase in successful applicants; and population movements within Ireland, which have also shifted the pattern of demand, increasing it in particular areas.

Over the same period the number of social work staff working on inter-country adoption assessments has increased from 38.7 whole-time equivalents in 2000 to 46 whole-time equivalents in 2004.

The Adoption Board and the HSE recently reached agreement on measures to tackle the waiting lists. These include a review of the waiting times and the immediate application of the €1 million in additional, ongoing funding I provided earlier this year to tackle the backlog of applications, the funding distribution to take account of the existing demand in each HSE area; the application process will be improved to ensure the most efficient use of administrative and social work time and to identify ineligible or unsuitable applicants early on in the process; and a general review by the Adoption Board and the HSE of the operation of the standardised framework for inter-country adoption to identify measures which will ensure sustainable improvements. The HSE reform programme affords the opportunity to review the provision of adoption services. The Adoption Board has agreed to fund this important review.