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.

However, the IAA stressed that couples wishing to adopt had no difficulty with the strict vetting procedures.

"We have no problem with the stringent process but we need to put in place faster routes to assessment. Whether the process is outsourced to a clearance agency or staff are hired from the international stage, the timescale had to be reduced no matter what the outcome," said Mr O'Byrne at the IAA conference in Dublin.

In many cases, couples can wait up to 18 months before they receive an official response to their original query to be considered as adoptive parents. Following initial assessment, they can also expect to wait another year while they go through a pre-adoption course and a further 12 months before being matched with a child. The IAA said it would also welcome the establishment of a new adoption authority to replace the existing Adoption Board under proposed reform of legislation governing adoption.

Mr O'Byrne said the forthcoming changes in the structure of regional health boards seemed an ideal time to set up such a uniform, national assessment system.

"What is needed is an integrated approach across all the issues we have highlighted. We are calling for a one-stop shop for families where all the necessary services are in place," he said.

While the proposed legislation is expected to enshrine the 1963 Hague Convention on international adoption into Irish law, the IAA remains concerned that it could lead to the introduction of an upper age limit for adoptive parents.

Family law expert Geoffrey Shannon said there should be no restriction on age as the focus of the adoptive process should always be "child-centred".

"On that basis, the law should assess applicants on a case by case basis rather than excluding potential parents by imposing limitations on age," said Mr Shannon.

Other speakers at the conference also highlighted deficiencies in post-adoption services in Ireland, which were described as "sorely lacking".