For three years now, the Birth Information and Tracing Act, which gave adopted people access rights to key birth information, has been law.

Since then, there has been high demand for such information, with more than 3,500 applications for birth information in 2023.

Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) Orlaith Traynor told The Pat Kenny Show that the act has been a “game changer”.

“We are very pleased with this new act,” she said.

“We’ve had 5,500 applicants who have applied for their information - and they’ve all received their information.

“Currently, we’re averaging 110 applications per month, and there’s a time limit for the release of this information in the act, 30 days.

"We’re currently achieving that deadline.”

Ms Traynor said the key point of access for adoptees seeking their birth information is www.birthinfo.ie.

An activist holding children's socks during a virtual protest in front of the Irish Mother and Baby Home Commission's Office in Dublin. On Saturday, 20 February, 2021. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

There is also a contact preference register where parents who gave up their children for adoption can state whether or not they wish to be contacted should their children seek out their birth information.

“We’ve had 4,000 entries on this and 393 matches,” she said.

“So, what happens is the birth parents who don’t want contact register on this contact preference register.

“Then, when the information is being released, this is given to the adult adoptees who are seeking their information.

“We find that the request for no contact is generally respected.”

According to Ms Traynor, when records are released to an adopted person that may cause distress, they are allocated a dedicated social worker, should they wish to avail of that service.

Current adoption numbers

When it comes to people currently looking to adopt, Ms Traynor said that there were 131 adoption orders last year.

"Out of those 131, five were infant adoptions compared to eight the previous year," she said.

"We've had 10 family adoptions and 45 long term foster care, but the increase is in the new family formations.

"71 adoptions last year were step-parent adoptions, and a step-parent adoption takes place when a mother marries or cohabits with a partner other than the father of a child and that partner goes on to adopt the child."

According to Ms Traynor, it typically takes four to five years to adopt a child from another country, and can cost between €10,000 and €20,000.

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Main image: Family figurines and court hammer. Image: designer491 / Alamy. 16 November 2021