THE ADOPTION AUTHORITY OF IRELAND
Our Mission
"To ensure the provision of the highest possible standards of adoption related services, throughout the lifelong adoption process, with the best interest of children as the first and paramount objective"
The Adoption Authority of Ireland was established as an independent regulatory body on 1st November, 2010 following the enactment of the Adoption Act 2010
Our Goals
To achieve the highest standard in the regulation and operation of adoption services in Ireland.
To apply informed and balanced decision-making in adoption services, in accordance with national and international law and evidence-based practice.
To inform and influence adoption policy and service delivery by reason of a practical understanding of the operations of the legislation through the provision of a comprehensive information, research and communications framework.
To plan and implement the changes required in organisation policies and operational procedures in line with emerging legislative changes.
To maintain an efficient, competent, accountable and learning organisation.
Latest News
-
19 Aug 2020Notice of Closure of Here2HelpRead more →Here2Help's Information and Tracing Service closed permanently on 30/06/2020.
Here2Help's Crisis Pregnancy and Post Termination Counselling Services closed permanently on 31/12/2019.
If you are seeking unplanned pregnancy advice or abortion aftercare, please contact the My Options helpline on freephone 1800828010 or www.myoptions.ie.
Here2Help, accredited by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) provided an Information and Tracing service to those whose records were held by the Agency. It is with great regret that the Board of Here2Help made the decision to close this service in 2020.
The decision to close resulted from the increasing costs and challenges for a small Agency to continue to provide a professional social work service and to comply with the governance requirements of the Charity Regulator; the funding agency, Tusla; and the Adoption Authority of Ireland.
A phased closure of the Information and Tracing service commenced in January 2020 and the service closed on 30 June 2020. The Agency can no longer respond to any new enquiries after this date.
Anybody wishing to submit an enquiry on or after 1 July 2020 may do so to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. An acknowledgement only will issue, and the request will be transferred to the new Agency who will provide an Information & Tracing Service once the details and all legal issues have been resolved. No Information and Tracing services are available from Here2Help.
The Administration Team are in discussions with the AAI to agree where the service, wait list, files and records will transfer to. Information about the new service provider will be posted here on the conclusion of these discussions and details will be posted here.
-
11 Aug 2020CEO Interview on RTE Radio OneRead more →Following the launch of the Adoption Authority of Ireland's 2019 Annual Report, CEO Patricia Carey spoke on RTE Radio One about the Report, in addition to the Adoption Authority's achievements this year, in continuing to provide a full public service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The interview can be listened to at this link: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/radio1/21816822
-
11 Aug 2020Launch of Annual Report 2019Read more →Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chairman of the Adoption Authority, is pleased to announce the publication of the Authority’s Annual Report 2019 at https://aai.gov.ie/images/AAI_Annual_Report_2019_FINAL.pdf The report details the activities of the Authority throughout the year and developments in adoption in Ireland.
The report shows that a total of 79 domestic adoption orders were granted in 2019, the majority of those to step-parent applicants – showing the impact of provisions in the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 that dispense with the requirement for both a parent and step-parent to apply to adopt the child. Forty-eight Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability were granted to applicants seeking to adopt abroad. The Authority received 560 applications to the voluntary register that mediates contact between adoptees and birth relatives, the National Adoption Contact Preference Register. The total number of entries was over 14,500 by year end. In 115 cases, a potential match was identified between the applicants and birth family members who had previously joined the Register.
Key events of 2019 for the AAI
- Dr Judy Lovett joined the Authority as Research Officer in August and, together with the Research Advisory Committee and Board, agreed an ambitious three-year research strategy for the AAI.
- The AAI launched its revamped website and new electronic document management system.
- The Authority received a Champions of Plain English award from the National Adult Literacy Agency.
- The AAI received into its care approximately 13,000 adoption files and records from Cúnamh Adoption Agency (formerly the Catholic Protection and Rescue Society of Ireland, established in 1913).
