Over 6,000 join adoption register

There were 6,270 applications to join the National Adoption Contact Preference Register (NACPR) during its first two years of operation, a review of the system revealed today.

The register was set up in 2005 by the Adoption Board to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact.

The review, which covers the period from April 2005 to March of this year, shows 71 per cent of the applications were from adopted people while 29 per cent were from natural parents or relatives.

Of the latter, natural mothers accounted for 68 per cent of applications, natural fathers for 12 per cent with other relatives accounting for the remaining 20 per cent.

Females accounted for 60 per cent of applications from adopted people and 84 per cent of applications from natural parents or relatives. Males accounted for 40 per cent of applications from adopted people and 16 per cent of those from natural parents or relatives.

The report found that 86 per cent of all applicants were willing to have some level of contact. However, almost two thirds of the remaining 14 per cent ticked the box indicating that they wished to be discreetly advised by the Adoption Board if another party registered.

The review concluded that the register had given adopted people and their natural relatives the opportunity to confidentially state their preferences with regard to the extent and type of contact they wish to have. "It has also given many a real sense of ownership and control over the process," it said.

The review said that international evidence suggested that the success of adoption contact registers is, in the main, related to the public's knowledge of their existence.

A media campaign to publicise and explain the work of NACPR was launched to coincide with the establishment of the register. The Adoption Board also circulated literature on how to apply and set up a free phone helpline.

In the next phase of its work the register will be advertising in the UK, Canada and the US, where a large number of Irish children were adopted, and where some natural parents are also likely to live.

Unveiling today's review, the Minister for Children Brendan Smith said the register was now an established and permanent feature of adoption services in Ireland.