'Not possible' to say what happened to thousands of babies with incomplete adoption files

The Adoption Authority of Ireland holds more than 4,000 incomplete files, mostly dating from the 1950s and 1960s, while Tusla has over 70,000 files but cannot say how many of these are completed adoptions or partial files. File picture: RollingNews.ie

The State's adoption agencies do not know what happened to thousands of babies for whom adoption files were opened but never completed.

But the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has said a full review of these files is "not feasible" as it would be extremely costly and would put a significant burden on staff.