From Monday 18 May 2020, the Adoption Authority of Ireland is resuming the majority of its activities, and all units are available for contact during office hours, 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

To contact the Adoption Authority by telephone, please call 01-230 9300 and select the relevant unit.

Units may also be contacted by email:

Domestic: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Intercountry: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Information and Tracing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Social Work: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Corporate Services: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Adoption Authority of Ireland hears the voice of the child at remote adoption hearings

On 12 May, the Adoption Authority of Ireland held adoption hearings using remote technology for the first time since its establishment. The remote hearings led by Adoption Authority Chairman Dr Geoffrey Shannon were necessitated by the current Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.

The Authority is very happy to be able to progress adoption applications by way of remote hearings for children, whose best interests are at all times the paramount consideration for the Authority. Given the urgent and sensitive work carried out by the Authority, it will continue its commitment to ensuring that there is no delay in processing adoption applications as it carries out its functions as a quasi-judicial body in these challenging times.

CEO Patricia Carey said:

"It is critical that there is no delay in hearing adoption applications, Therefore the Board of the Authority, led by the Adoption Authority Chairman Dr Geoffrey Shannon, has adapted its procedures to use remote technology. The remote hearings have been designed to ensure that all participants can give formal evidence remotely while maintaining the integrity of the adoption system including the legal proofs required". 

The Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) has partnered with Empowering People in Care (EPIC) for a children's art competition.

IFCA and EPIC are seeking photos, paintings or drawings from children and young people that show what life is like while staying at home and staying safe.

There are three categories, open to all foster and birth children:

Under 5's

Ages 5 - 9

Ages 9 - 13

Prizes are One4All vouchers, with three prizes in each category.

Send entries to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Entrants are asked not to send photos of identifiable people. Winners will be notified by email and artwork will be posted on social media. 

Final date for entries 1st May 2020

Please click here for further details. 

Barnardos services to parents, children and teenagers are being evaluated by a research team with Queens University Belfast. As part of this evaluation, a survey will be sent out to all parents who have signed up on the Barnardos webpage at https://www.barnardos.ie/sign-up-to-post-adoption-emails

Barnardos welcomes families to register on the page so that they can take part in the survey which is designed towards improving Barnardos' post adoption service to families. 

From Tuesday April 14th, the Adoption Authority of Ireland are operating a skeleton service until further notice.

If you wish to make contact with the Authority, the email addresses of relevant sections are listed below.

Domestic - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Intercountry - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Information & Tracing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Social Work: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Corporate Services: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you need to speak to somebody by phone, please contact 01-2309300

The Adoption Authority respects the right to privacy of all those who interact with us, and complies with our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. 

In accordance with these obligations, and to provide our customers with a clear understanding of the key issues, we have produced a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Data Protection and Privacy under GDPR. 

These FAQs may be viewed on the dedicated page on our website by clicking here.

They are also available to download as a PDF document, by clicking here. 

Barnardos Post Adoption Service  is continuing to offer services throughout the current health crisis, and has issued the following statement outlining current arrangements:

"Barnardos Post Adoption Service is continuing to offer services throughout the current health crisis. While we cannot meet with our clients face to face, our staff are offering phone support and Skype sessions to adopted teenagers and children and their parents, as well as adopted adults and birth family members. We are finding that the Skype sessions are already being really welcomed by families around the country.

Our phones continue to be staffed in our three centres in Dublin (01-8134000), Cork (021-2038005) and Galway (091-454489). We will call you back if we miss you! You are most welcome to phone us or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Our post adoption helpline continues to operate at 01-4536388 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings."

HHAMA is continuing to monitor the current situation in relation to COVID-19.

As of 18 March 2020, no travel is to be undertaken to any jurisdiction / country to effect an intercountry adoption.

The decision has been made in conjunction with the Adoption Authority, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been informed. 

In relation to document and dossier submissions; several of the sending authorities have closed their offices and so we continue to monitor document status in HHAMA and email scans where practical. This is a matter we continue to monitor in relation to courier services and sending countries' ability to receive packages. 

COVID-19 NOTICE UPDATE AAI MARCH 28TH SERVICE UPDATE

From Monday March 30th the Adoption Authority Of Ireland are operating a restricted service until further notice. 

If you wish to make contact with the Authority, the email addresses of relevant senior managers are listed below. 

If you need to speak to someone by phone please contact Patricia Carey CEO on 01 2309329 or Tara Downes Director of Operations 01 2309302 by telephone. 

Senior Management Team        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Head of HR and Staff Development) / Kate_O’This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Head of Compliance)

                                             This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Board Sec/Director of Operations)/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (CEO)

The intercountry adoption support group, the Western Intercountry Adoption Organisation, has kindly provided a list of events that they are aware of, that may be of interest to followers of our website. 

1) Barnardos (Galway) - Different Parts of Me workshop (for teenagers): 20th Feb

2) Barnardos (Cork) - Different Part of Me workshop (for teenagers): 20th Feb

3) Barnardos (Donegal) - Parenting Skills for Adoptive Parents: 10th Mar

4) Barnardos (Galway) - Lets Think about adoption workshop (for 8-11 year olds, with parent): 16 April

http://www.barnardos.ie/learning-development/training/training-events-courses

5) Online - Peaceful Parent Summit: January 27th to February 9th to include speakers like Dr Dan Siegel, Dr Laura Markham, Bryan Post etc https://peacefulparentsummit.com/

6) Online - Happily Family: Jan 23rd to Jan 27th to include speakers like Dr Dan Siegel, Dr Laura Markham, Dr Tina Bryson etc.https://conference.happilyfamily.com/?utm_campaign=hf_conf_202001&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email-broadcast&utm_content=announce_5&utm_term=registered%2F

7) RIAG Weekend away Saturday 29th Feb in Belfast, We are vertigo https://www.wearevertigo.com/, for teenagers and pre teens contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

8) PCPSI (Dublin)- Bessel van der Kolk Trauma, Attachment and Neuroscience: Embodied Self - Awareness and Self Regulation:17th &18th June https://pcpsi.ie/events/list/

9) Online -  Free Webinar Introduction to NARM, Dr Laurence Heller: 27th Jan. https://www.facebook.com/events/professional-counselling-psychotherapy-seminars-ireland/free-webinar-introduction-to-narm-dr-laurence-heller/1566016330233359/

10) Trauma Summit (Belfast) - World Trauma experts return to Belfast 22nd - 23rd June, Bessel Van der Kolk, Dan Siegel, Peter Levine, etc. https://traumasummit.com/

11) RIAG Coffee and chats - 
     Dunboyne Castle 17th January  10.00am , contact Gill on 086 283 3694 or Deidre  087 2098816
     Kilmacanogue  - Avoca  31st January 10.00am – contact Jennifer  087 815 9562
     Ennis - Auburn Lodge 31sth January  9.00pm – contact Regina  085761 7761
     Galway   Clayton Hotel 1st February  8.30pm – contact Regina 085 761 7761
     Portlaosie – Killeshin hotel 19th February 10.00am  - contact   Anne Marie  087 981 5144