Independent bodies to take over adoption assessments

ADOPTION assessments are to be moved from the HSE to independent bodies so social workers can focus more on child protection and family support work.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews told a conference of the International Adoption Association at the weekend that he had informed the HSE that using accredited independent bodies was the way to go in terms of adoption assessment.

Mr Andrews also said his office would place advertisements in newspapers this week seeking expressions of interest for those wishing to set up adoption mediation agencies.

These will mediate between prospective adoptive parents and the countries from which they wish to adopt. They will have to be licensed and accredited by the Adoption Board, under new regulations which are being drafted.

Ireland’s only adoption mediation agency, Helping Hands, has had its licence revoked and is currently under investigation by the Adoption Board in relation to fees it charges people to adopt from Vietnam.

The new Adoption Act, due to come into effect on November 1, provides for the establishment of accredited bodies to support the adoption process.

The act, signed into law by the President in July, ratifies the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption provides for a number of changes to the adoption process as well as a name change for the Adoption Board, which will become the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

However, the act has been roundly criticised by groups representing adopted people and natural parents as it provides no information and tracing rights, despite such rights being commonplace in other European countries.