Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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271. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if extra resources, particularly personnel, are now in place to deal with the significant backlog of applications lodged through the information and tracing legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3754/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am deeply aware of the disappointment and frustration caused to applicants receiving a notification indicating that there will be a delay in the compilation and release of their information.

Information and Tracing services, as provided for under the Act, opened to applications on 03 October 2022. As of Monday 23 January, a total of 6,474 applications for information have been received by Tusla and the AAI, with almost two thirds of that total being received within two weeks of commencement. These applications are in addition to the 2,948 applications made for tracing services since 03 October, and 3,005 preferences registered to the Contact Preference Register since it opened on 01 July.

As of Monday 23 January, the two agencies have completed 1,375 requests for information, with more due for completion and issue each day. In addition to delivering Information and Tracing services, AAI is also managing applications to the Contact Preference Register and has successfully identified 208 matches for relatives for whom they are facilitating contact.

Officials from my Department have been engaging with both the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla in respect of the ongoing implementation of services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.

I have been assured that both agencies are doing their utmost to respond to all the applications received within the shortest possible timeframe. I have also been advised that they are re-assigning additional staff members to work exclusively on processing applications and that they will continue to keep every person who is waiting for information informed about their application.

Both Tusla and the Adoption Authority are actively engaging with applicants to advise them of indicative timeframes for when they will receive their information.