Couples wait up to four years to adopt

DELAYS of up to four years in assessing the suitability of couples seeking to adopt overseas children is causing unnecessary stress and pain, a conference heard yesterday.

The International Adoption Association has called on the Government to take urgent action to reduce growing waiting lists for such families.

IAA chairman Kevin O'Byrne blamed the delays on an insufficient number of social workers in certain health board areas as well as longer waiting lists which arise from falling fertility rates.