52 Meath people apply for adoption information since new legislation

More than 1,200 people, 52 of them from Meath have made an application to the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) for their birth information since the launch of services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act one week ago.

Meath had the fourth highest numbers of application from Ireland after Dublin (419), followed by Cork (162) and Kildare (53). The county with the fewest applications was Leitrim (6).

Of 1,288 applications made to the AAI from October 3rd to October 10th, there were 1,176 from people living in Ireland, 48 from the UK, 28 from the USA, and others from countries including Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, France, and Canada. Thirteen of the UK applications were made by people living in Northern Ireland.

The Birth Information and Tracing Act provides a full and clear right of access to birth certificates, birth, early life, care, and medical information for any person who was adopted, boarded out, had their birth illegally registered, or who otherwise has questions in relation to their origins.

Additionally, it allows for access to information by a child of a relevant person where their parent has died, and for access by the next of kin of a child who died in an institution.

The new law also creates a statutory tracing service for those affected by adoption who are seeking contact with birth relatives. Services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act are provided free of charge by the AAI and Tusla. People affected by the legislation are urged to make an application on the dedicated website www.birthinfo.ie.

Adoption Authority CEO Patricia Carey said: “There has been an incredible response to the launch of birth information and tracing services – with more than 1,200 people applying to the Adoption Authority in the first week, and many others also applying to our colleagues in Tusla.

“People who were adopted, boarded out or had their birth information illegally registered in Ireland have waited a very long time for this legislation, and trained staff in the Adoption Authority are working through all the applications we receive as quickly and professionally as possible to ensure that every applicant receives any information about their birth and earlier years that we hold.”

Applications for birth information and tracing services can be made online at www.birthinfo.ie.