Adoption
At the Annual General Meeting of the Irish Foster Care Association in 2001, a motion was brought by the Wexford branch of the Association;
'That this conference instruct the incoming board of IFCA to actively support foster parents by identifying the issues involved in adopting a foster child, and that the findings be pursued through the Department of Health and Children'.The motion was carried unanimously therefore giving IFCA a mandate to take up this issue.
In July 2003 IFCA welcomed the opportunity to contribute to a discussion paper issued by the then Minister for Children Brian Lenihan. The submission pertained only to issues in relation to adoption or to guardianship of children in long-term foster care.
In January 2005 Minister Lenihan published a report on the Consultation Process entitled;
Adoption Legislation: 2003 consultation and proposals for change.
In chapter 2 there is a recommendation that
'a foster care parent, whose foster care child has consented to being adopted, should be assessed for adoption within twelve months of making the application for assessment. The adoption application must be a joint one in the case of a married couple'.
and in chapter 7
'While it is appropriate in some cases to go ahead with the adoption of children, provision should be made to allow people aged over 18 to be adopted by their long term foster carers where both parties consent or where consent has been dispersed with by order of the court if the person is unable to give or understand consent'.
The Irish Foster Care Association continues to keep the issue of Adoption for over 18's on the Agenda with the Minister and the Department.