The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has announced the commencement of a public consultation process to inform the development of their new strategic plan to cover the period 2025–2027, with an online survey open for stakeholders input, until Monday, 15 July, 2024.
Established on November 1, 2010, under the Adoption Act 2010, the AAI is an independent quasi-judicial body under the auspices of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY). The purpose of the Adoption Act 2010 is to improve standards in domestic and intercountry adoption. The AAI oversees and regulates the adoption process in Ireland, as well as providing services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 that include access to one’s birth and early life information and also tracing services.
Dr Lorraine Horgan, CEO of The Adoption Authority of Ireland, commenced her role at the start of this year. One of her goals is to find new ways of listening and reaching out to the AAI’s service-users and people who have been personally affected by adoption to improve the AAI’s services.
“This public consultation process will provide essential information for our new Strategic Plan. Insights obtained through this consultation will inform how the AAI can continue to advance our mission of ensuring the provision of the highest possible standards of adoption-related services. The AAI continues to develop how it discharges its statutory functions and delivers its services. Feedback from anyone affected by adoption is vital to our development,” Lorraine said.
FEEDBACK ENCOURAGED
All stakeholders are now invited to contribute their views and insights via to help shape the future strategic direction of the AAI’s work.
The AAI works with a wide and diverse range of people – both those who work in the area of adoption (e.g. government agencies, social workers, solicitors, service providers), and those who are personally affected by adoption (e.g. adopted people, birth parents, adoptive parents, other adopted or birth relatives, etc.).
“We would like to hear from anyone we work with, or who has availed of our services or who has been personally affected by adoption. By asking for feedback from the people we work with and whom we serve, we will be able to improve our programmes and services, and better meet the needs of those we serve. The feedback we receive will help us to highlight the issues and priorities the AAI should focus on over the next three years,” a spokesperson said.
NEW STRATEGY
The survey questions cover several areas, including: engagement with the AAI; areas of strength and areas for improvement; our performance; communication and collaboration; future focus; and any additional comments people may wish to provide.
Submissions will be used exclusively for developing the AAI’s next strategic plan and will only be shared internally and with the AAI’s appointed consultants, and will not be circulated outside of the AAI. All information provided will be securely stored and only kept for 12 months. The AAI is committed to safeguarding the privacy of all personal information in accordance with data privacy legislation. A report on the consultation process will be published on the AAI website along with the new strategy in due course.
“The AAI is keen to hear from its service-users and anyone who has been personally affected by adoption. These are valuable inputs to inform our work and would be very much appreciated,” a spokesperson stated.
The online survey will remain open until Monday, 15 July, 2024 – for further details and to participate in the survey, please visit www.aai.gov.ie
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