Written answers
Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Child Protection
Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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485. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the case of adoptees, illegally adopted in the past, who are now being offered €3,000 in compensation, and not €4,000, as had been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41312/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In March 2022, I published the report of Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection on Proposals for a State Response to Illegal Birth Registration in Ireland. The report's recommendations included a recommendation (recommendation 16) regarding a payment towards legal costs associated with, for example, a declaration of parentage.
Following receipt of the recommendations, I established a payment scheme to make once-off payments of €3,000 to the individuals affected by confirmed illegal birth registration. These payments will represent a contribution towards costs which may arise in relation to DNA testing or legal fees which may be incurred in respect of seeking information on the implications of their birth registration in the context of their particular individual circumstances. The scheme is being administered by Tusla.
Neither I nor my Department is aware of any agreement relating to a figure of €4,000.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 contains important provisions to support those with an illegal birth registration. In addition, Tusla, through Barnardos, provides a therapeutic service and counselling support to those whose births were illegally registered.
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