Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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518. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals who have applied to State bodies (details supplied) under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022; the number still waiting for their records; the current timeline for when people can expect their records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15239/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Information and Tracing services, as provided for under the Act, opened to applications on 3rd October 2022. As of Monday 27th March, a total of 7,526 applications for information have been received by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), with approximately half of that total being received within two weeks of commencement. These applications are in addition to the 3,489 applications made for tracing services since 3rd October, and 3,106 preferences registered to the Contact Preference Register since it opened on 1st July.

As of Monday 27th March, the two agencies have completed 2,948 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 (CPR) and has successfully identified 215 matches for relatives for whom they are facilitating contact. Since the enactment of the legislation, 66 pairs of relatives have had contact facilitated by the AAI following a CPR match.

Tusla and the AAI are actively engaging with those affected by delays. AAI expects to clear the backlog of applications received by it by Autumn 2023, if not earlier, and Tusla by July 2023. However, it is important to note that many applicants will receive their information much sooner than this, as more and more applicants receive their information every week.