Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is a 22 month delay in the former East Coast Area Health Board region for couples wishing to start the process of inter-country adoption; her plans to increase the number of social workers to reduce the waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11313/07]

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 inter-country 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 inter-country adoption services.