Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if urgent assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin by putting in a proper support service for them and by working with their family by providing a proper, safe place; and if this will be made a priority case. [16841/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in assessing adoptive parents with respect to their suitability to adopt children in County Louth; the average waiting time for such assessments on a county basis; if social workers can be contracted privately to carry out such assessments in cases in which the waiting lists are very lengthy; the moneys allocated to each county for this service in the past three years; if social workers can be allocated cases from other areas in which assessment waiting lists are small; if the assessments can be carried out as a matter of urgency in cases in which other States have already granted custody of a child to adoptive parents; and if such parents can be assessed while a child is in their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16846/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

The Government did allocate €1 million to the HSE in additional ongoing funding commencing in 2005 to assist in tackling intercountry adoption waiting times. I understand that this additional funding is being used to pilot measures which will, for example, allow for more flexible working arrangements within the HSE with a view to addressing waiting times. The registered Adoption Society, PACT, has also received significant additional funding to allow them to expand their intercountry adoption services.