Irish couples adopting 500 foreign children per year
Around 500 overseas children are being adopted by Irish families every year, new figures released today reveal.
This is 10 times more than the number of annual domestic adoptions, according to a report carried out by Trinity College, Dublin.
The research found that Ireland has one of the highest per capita rates of inter-country adoption in Europe, with around 4,500 foreign kids adopted by Irish parents since the procedure became legal in Ireland in 1991.
Almost 200 children from overseas countries were surveyed in the study, which found that while the majority of youngsters were doing well, there was a lack of support particularly for those suffering from early neglect and institutional care.
"Inter-country adoption provides a very striking example of the resilience of children despite early adversity," principal investigator on the study Professor Sheila Greene said.
"The majority of the children in this study have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to achieve and develop to their full potential once they were given the opportunity of a normal, loving and supportive home."
During the two-year research, the Trinity College study team interviewed and assessed around 180 children, aged between two and 17 years old.
Interviews also took place with the children's adoptive parents on a wide range of issues including their pre-adoption and post-adoption experiences, their experience of parenting and their views on pre and post adoption support services.
Further detailed interviews were conducted with young adopted adults, representatives of support groups and social workers.
The children, from around 15 different countries, were on average around 17 months old when adopted and 80% had spent some time in institutional care.
The findings revealed that 50 Irish children were being adopted every year by Irish parents compared to 500 overseas kids.
The study also found that even though the children from foreign countries were doing well in Ireland, there was little support for their needs with some struggling with the consequences of early neglect and institutional care.
Within all age groups a majority wished to know more about their birth families, and particularly about their birth mother and siblings, the research also revealed.
"The outcomes of the study, in which we hear the voice of the adopted children and young people for the first time, will contribute to improving the quality of the inter-country adoption experience, especially post adoption," chairman of the Adoption Board Justice Jim O'Sullivan said.
