Report Shows Rise In Inter-Country Adoptions

New figures from the Adoption Board show that around 500 children are being adopted here from other countries each year.

This is the first national study into inter-country adoptions and it shows that the number of children adopted from abroad far exceeds the number of annual domestic adoptions.

During the two-year study, 180 children aged between two and 17 years who have been adopted from outside Ireland and their parents were interviewed.

The authors of the report say there is a lack of support for the needs of these children – some of whom are struggling with the consequences of early neglect.

There were mixed feelings among those interviewed as to whether their adoptions made a difference to their lives and the majority indicated they wished to know more about their birth families.