Plan for adoption tracing service unveiled

A national adoption information and tracing service is to be set up under legislation being proposed by the Government.

The service is part of the legislation being put forward in the setting up of a new Adoption Authority, which will replace the Adoption Board. The legislation is being prepared by Minister of State with responsibility for children, Mr Brian Lenihan.

Mr Lenihan this morning set out how the new Authority would be set up on a statutory basis.

He said a senior management team had been appointed to put in place the arrangements for the new body.

He said the establishment of the new Authority was in response to changes in adoption since its introduction in 1952, when the Adoption Board was established

Domestic adoptions have dropped significantly from a high of 1,443 in 1975 to 266 in 2002. One hundred and sixty seven of these were step-parent adoptions.

The legislation currently being prepared also includes new powers to regulate inter-country adoption under the Hague Convention.