Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the long delays in dealing with applications to the Adoption Board caused by the illness of two full-time administrative staff there and the embargo on appointing temporary staff to carry out their functions; if she will intervene to remove this delay in the adoption process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23182/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Adoption Board is an independent statutory body established under the Adoption Act, 1952. I am not aware of the specific difficulties referred to by the Deputy and have been advised that there are no undue delays in the processing of applications by the Board. Based on the information provided by the Adoption Board there are no significant sick leave issues in relation to administrative staff working in the Adoption Board. Accordingly, the matter of replacement staff does not arise.