Latest News AND Vacancies
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10 Mar 2021Adoption Authority of Ireland Service Update 12 March 2021Read more →On this Friday, 12 March 2021, the offices of the Adoption Authority will close at 1pm in order to facilitate an essential ICT system upgrade. The offices will reopen for business at 9.30am on Monday 15 March 2021.
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10 Mar 2021Mother & Baby Homes Commission of Investigation's Database and Related RecordsRead more →The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) required that a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) be conducted on the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation's transfer of its databases and related records to Tusla, in order to identify and minimise any associated data protection risks. Before and since receiving the databases and related records, Tusla's Data Protection Unit carried out an initial DPIA. Tusla's Data Protection Officer representing the public interest monitored the development of the DPIA.
Tusla welcomes and is happy to receive any observations or comments that the public may have on the DPIA. Further details about the DPIA and how to request information is available at this link.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Post: Data Protection Officer, Tusla, 6th Floor, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, St. John's Road West, D08 X01F
For access to information contained within the databases and related records or any other record held by the Adoption service, through either a data subject access request (Access) or freedom of information (FOI) request, please email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Information on making an Access request to Tusla is available here.
Information on making an FOI request to Tusla is available here.
If you previously made an Access or FOI request to Tusla, particularly regarding identity, a new request will not necessarily provide additional or differing information to that which was already received. You can however be assured that every request will be treated as new and responded to with the intention of releasing as much information as possible.
Tusla is legally permitted to use the databases only for the purpose of processing data subject access and FOI requests until robust information and tracing legislation is introduced. However, we will continue to provide trace/search/ reunion requests from all of the paper records we hold. Tusla also recognises that the databases and related records could have significant further value in the coming years, and every effort will be made in the intervening time to use it to maximum benefit.
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04 Mar 2021HSE announces extended Counselling Supports for those affected by Illegal Birth RegistrationsRead more →HSE Media Release: 3 March 2021
Evidence of illegal registration records from St. Patrick's Guild was previously announced in May 2018 by the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. An independent analysis of adoption records held in the custody of the State [Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland] was carried out to find if the practice of illegal registration took place in other Irish adoption services.
A number of support options are in place for anyone impacted, including the HSE's National Counselling Service (NCS). Established in 2000, the HSE's National Counselling Service has over 20 years of experience providing counselling and psychotherapy to a wide range of clients across the country. The National Counselling Service, which is available from Monday to Friday (9 - 5pm), can be offered by telephone, online through secure video and where possible Counsellors can also facilitate some face to face appointments.
The HSE also funds Connect Counselling, which provides an anonymous telephone support service (1800 477 477) available to former residents of Mother & Baby Homes or anyone affected by illegal birth registrations. Connect is available 7 days a week from 6pm - 10pm. The Barnardos Post Adoption helpline, 01 454 6388, is also available daily to reach out and access the help that is available.
The HSE Live team can provide information on supports and can also help with details on how to access the National Counselling Service. They can be contacted on 1800 817 517, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturday from 10am to 5pm. The HSE would encourage anyone who has been impacted or needs support to reach out and access the help that is available.
Information on counselling supports and contact details can be found on the HSE website here.
There are an estimated 150,000 adoption records in existence and, of these, approximately 100,000 are currently in the custody of the State, for example in the possession of either Tusla, the Child and Family Agency or the Adoption Authority of Ireland.
The review is focused on those records in the custody of the State and a targeted sampling exercise in being carried out in the first instance owing to the volume of records involved.
More details can be found on www.gov.ie.
