AQW 40378/11-15

Mr Steven Agnew
Green Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 07/01/2015
Answered On Date: 20/01/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of applications for adoption from same-sex couples; and (ii) the number of people adopted by same-sex couples, since December 2013.

Answer:

The information requested is not routinely collected and has therefore been provided for the period 27 June 2013 (the date on which the judgement relating to existing adoption law and guidance was handed down by the Court of Appeal) to 31 December 2014. The Health and Social Care Trusts and voluntary adoption agencies in Northern Ireland have reported that, during that period, a total of 13 applications for adoption from same-sex couples have been received.

Of the applications received by HSC Trusts and voluntary adoption agencies to date, none have led to adoption orders being granted by a Northern Ireland court.