David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of foreign adoptions in the past five years; the countries of origin of the children concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37659/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average time it takes for a person who wishes to adopt a child from an outside country to be assessed; the procedures involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37660/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the countries with which the State has an adoption agreement; her plans to make further agreements with other countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37661/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the age restrictions placed on couples who wish to adopt children from outside the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37662/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 to 162, inclusive, together.

The most recent statistics available on intercountry adoption are contained in the Adoption Board annual report of 2004. The number of adoptions entered in the register of foreign adoptions and in respect of which applications for an adoption order were made under the Adoption Acts, 1952 and 1988 are as follows:

Applications for intercountry 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. My Department's latest figures for intercountry adoption statistics relate to the third quarter ended 30 September, 2005. At that time figures show that the average duration of assessment — the time from beginning of preparation stage to date of decision by placement committee — was 10.2 months.

The process of assessment of applicants for intercountry assessment is set out in a framework for intercountry assessment introduces 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 and 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 that can also cause delay.

The Adoption Board has bilateral adoption agreements with China, Belarus, Romania, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. Belarus and Romania have, however, ceased intercountry adoption. A draft revised protocol between Ireland and Belarus is before the Attorney General for his advices. The board is also actively pursuing the issue of an adoption agreement with the Russian Federation. It is important to note, however, that it is not possible at this stage to confirm either a timeframe for the completion of the negotiations or whether or not such negotiations will result in a successful outcome.

The heads of the Adoption (Hague Convention, Adoption Authority and Miscellaneous) Bill which, when enacted will ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption 1993, are being drafted into a Bill in the Parliamentary Counsel's office. I hope that the Bill will be published in the earlier part of 2006.

An upper age limit of 50 years of age for people who wish to be assessed for intercountry adoption is one of the proposed provisions in the new bill being drafted. This age limit would apply to sole applicants and to the younger of a couple at the time they apply to be assessed for intercountry adoption.