Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total number of applications for adoption, national and foreign awaiting process or approval; if she will further outline her proposals to address the most obvious of frequently arising issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33677/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The number of applications for adoption awaiting processing and approval covers various aspects of processing work ranging from an enquiry by prospective adopters to the HSE for assessment through to the granting of an entry in the Register of Adopted people and Register of Intercountry Adoptions, as appropriate.

The AAI have advised me that they have received 288 applications for extensions to Declarations of Eligibility & Suitability in recent weeks. These Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability are due to expire on 31 October 2012. The AAI have forwarded these applications to the HSE for updated assessments to be produced. The Authority also currently has 37 applications in hand for new Declarations.

I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply in regard to the number of adoption applications it is currently processing.