Dublin couples wait four years to adopt

Dublin couples have to wait four years for an assessment to adopt children from other countries while those in Donegal only have to wait three months, said Fine Gael Dail candidate, Councillor Catherine Byrne.

"It is a national disgrace that many couples will have to wait 4 years for an assessment and probably about six years before they can start a family.

"Delays in the Eastern Regional Health Authority to process assessments are totally unacceptable and members of the Government should put themselves in the shoes of couples who cannot have children of their own.

"There were 550 applicants on the ERHA waiting list at the end of 2001. This is 51% of the national total of couples waiting to be assessed for an inter country adoption.

"There are 300 plus new applicants each year and waiting times are getting longer with just 137 assessments completed in 2001.

"Statistically there are 38.5 social workers nationwide but just 9.5 social workers in the ERHA." she added.