Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will instruct the Health Service Executive to immediately start quick re-assessments of couples in possession of a pre-Hague declaration, Article 63 declarations, in view of the fact that it takes more than eight months in some cases to move from assessment to declaration and some applicants only have 10 months left to the expiration of 370 declaration; if she will instruct the Adoption Authority of Ireland not to stop issuing the Article 17 for adoptions from Thailand in view of the fact that there are still 10 families left on the waiting list for Thailand adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4324/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In order to effect an intercountry adoption, prospective adoptive parents must hold a valid declaration of eligibility and suitability on the day of the Court judgement in the country of origin where the adoption is taking place. All declarations of eligibility and suitability issued under Section 63 of the Adoption Act, 2010, expire on 31 October 2013. However, following discussions between the Adoption Authority and the Health Service Executive, the latter have agreed that prospective adopters can apply for a new assessment 6 months prior to the lapsing of their original declaration. Therefore, from the 1st of April 2013 applicants holding a Section 63 declaration can apply to the HSE under Section 37 of the Adoption Act, 2010, for an assessment of eligibility and suitability to adopt.

Following assessment by the HSE, the Adoption Authority may issue a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability under Section 40 of the Adoption Act, 2010. This Declaration will be valid for two years from the date of issue. The AAI and HSE will ensure that any prospective adoptive parent with a referral pending will be prioritised for assessment and issuance of a declaration of eligibility of and suitability.

The Adoption Authority informs me there has been no disruption in the receipt of intercountry adoption child referrals from Thailand. The Thai authorities allocated Ireland a quota of four referrals for 2012. Prospective adoptive parents proposing to adopt from Thailand should hold a valid Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability at all times, including the period after which they have received custody of a child and prior to effecting an adoption at the Thai Embassy in London. The Adoption Authority and the HSE are examining a range of issues in relation to assessments and the issuance of declarations. The relevant information on these matters will be published on the AAI website (www.aai.gov.ie).

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by prospective adoptive parents in the process of adopting from Bulgaria; the measures she and the Adoption Authority of Ireland are taking to remedy these difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4421/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that a number of prospective adoptive parents have been asked to pay substantial fees to ARC within a short time frame. I recently met with a representative group of parents hoping to adopt from Bulgaria. Issues relating to the level of fees charged by an accredited body (ARC) are a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and are covered in some detail by the Adoption Act, 2010 (Accredited Bodies) Regulation 2010. The fee structure employed by ARC has been examined and approved by the AAI.

At this meeting the Adoption Authority advised that, with the assistance of their auditors, the Authority is examining a number of issues in relation to accredited bodies, including an examination of levels of fees being charged by Irish agencies in relation to international norms. The auditors will also report to the AAI in relation to proposed payment schedules by accredited bodies. I have asked the AAI for a full report on this matter. Following this examination, the AAI will discuss the findings with ARC. The AAI have also agreed to make contact with the Bulgarian authorities to establish the position regarding intercountry adoptions. I have agreed to meet with the prospective parents group again when the AAI have had an opportunity to complete their examination of the issues.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on inter-country adoption arrangements between Ireland and Vietnam; the way this programme will be administered into the future; if funding is guaranteed for the mediation agency Helping Hands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4438/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In September 2012 the AAI and the Vietnamese Central Authority for Adoption signed an Administrative Agreement for intercountry adoption. The Administrative Arrangement is the first international administrative agreement for intercountry adoption entered into by the AAI and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since both countries ratified the Hague Convention. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent sovereign state As such it will decide the manner in which it implements the Hague Convention, including the numbers of children deemed suitable for intercountry adoption having regard to the principles of the Convention. It is assumed that the numbers of adoptions by Irish parents may not reach previous levels. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has accredited two agencies for activities in relation to facilitating adoptions from Vietnam. While currently a number of issues in relation to accredited agencies are being examined no decisions regarding the funding of accredited agencies has been made.