Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the Health Service Executive's position on a matter (details supplied). [11238/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Adoption is a service for children who are in need of a permanent home. My Department and I are of the view that intercountry adoption should be child centred, that is, in all stages of the process the child's interests must be paramount. As such, there are a number of statutory procedures regulating intercountry adoption. All prospective adoptive parents must be assessed initially by the HSE or a registered adoption society. Where applicants are recommended as eligible and suitable the application is sent to the Adoption Board for its consideration. The Adoption Board are the statutory body with responsibility for the issuing of declarations of eligibility and suitability under the Adoption Act, 1991.

Each application/applicant is considered individually on their own merits. The Framework used to assess applicants was developed with a wide range of stakeholders including practitioners, academics and adoptive parents. The Framework provides that prospective adoptive parents are assessed against five standards for intercountry adoption. The focus of the assessment is on the capacity and preparedness of the applicants to meet the child's needs and their capability to meet the long-term challenges. These standards include, inter alia, the capacity to fulfil all of the parental duties over the lifetime of the child; the capacity to promote and support the child's development and well-being; the capacity to safeguard and support the child's welfare; and to provide the necessary health, social, education and other interventions for the child. Further details regarding the Framework for Intercountry Adoption Assessment can be provided to the Deputy, if required.