Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the south east, the waiting period for the pre-course required before the assessment procedure for international adoption applicants is in excess of eighteen months and that this delay is due to the inadequate number of social workers employed in the south-east; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that currently international adoptions can take as much as four years to complete; the steps she proposes to take to remedy this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12379/07]

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 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.