The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) received 2,570 applications for birth certificates, birth information and medical information. 

AAI published their annual report today detailing the implementation of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022. 

The report found that AAI received 2,570 applications for information between October and December alone. 

Another 1,944 people registered their details on the Contract Preference Register (CPR) in 2022, compared to 540 people in the previous 12 months. 

The CPR was set up in 2005 to allow people affected by adoption to make their wishes known about having contact with birth family members. 

AAI Board Chairperson Orlaith Traynor said the new tracing legislation represented “a seismic change in our adoption landscape”. 

“For many years, people adopted here in Ireland were denied access to their birth certificates, birth, early life and care information and medical information,” she said. 

“The new legislation confirmed the right of adopted people to be provided with information as to their identity and origins, where available.” 

'Opening of information'

In 2022, 102 out of 110 adoption applications were accepted and 170 inter-country adoptions were registered and recognised. 

AAI also received 108 tracing applications in the last three months of 2022, 81% of which were allocated to a social worker by the end of the year. 

Youth Minister Roderic O’Gorman said he is “very happy” to receive a report on adoption in Ireland. 

“I would especially like to highlight the continuing work of the Authority on the implementation of the Birth Information and Tracing Act,” he said. 

“I recall the very successful Public Information Campaign and the launch of the contact preference register which supported the opening of information and tracing services under the Act in October last year.”