John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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543. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason her Department will not process adoption applications for children based in India for approved Irish families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17344/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has no role in processing adoption applications. The Adoption Authority has accredited Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to facilitate intercountry adoptions from India.

The Authority has contacted the Indian Central Authority, CARA, to inform them of the Authority's decision in relation to the accreditation of Helping Hands and to seek a favourable and speedy decision on approval from the Indian authorities. The Authority has also advised me that at its meeting of 11 March 2014 the Board considered the matter of transmission of packs to India and have sought further clarification from CARA as to whether Helping Hands require accreditation in India prior to forwarding packs.

I recently facilitated a meeting with the Ireland India Support Group and the Adoption Authority and a further meeting is scheduled for the 1st of May 2014.