Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on progress being made to address the backlog of applications through the tracing.ie portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15394/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Birth Information and Tracing Act was signed into law on 30 June 2022, all services established under the Act are open to applications since 03 October. As of Monday 27 March a total of 7,526 applications for information have been received by he Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), with over half of that total being received within two weeks of commencement.

Of the 7,526 applications, 4,455 are applications made to Tusla, and 3,071 to AAI. These applications are in addition to the 3,489 applications made to Tusla for tracing services since 03 October, and 3,106 preferences registered to the Contact Preference Register held by the AAI since it opened on 01 July. Tracing services are not subject to statutory time frames.

As of Monday 27 March, the two agencies have processed and completed 2,948 requests for information, 1,513 by Tusla, and 1,435 by AAI, with more due for completion and issue each day.

In addition to Information and Tracing services, applications are continuing to be made to the Contact Preference Register, and the AAI has successfully identified 215 matches for relatives for whom they are facilitating contact.

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 have re-assigned 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.