Adoption Authority of Ireland seeks input from Mayo on 2025-2027 Strategic Plan

The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has announced the commencement of a public consultation process to inform the development of a new strategic plan to cover the period 2025-2027.

All stakeholders are invited to contribute their views and insights via www.aai.gov.ie to help shape the future strategic direction of the AAI’s work.

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. It also provides services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 that include access to one’s birth and early life information and also tracing services.

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.).

Now, the AAI would like to hear from anyone in Mayo it works with, or who has availed of its services, or who has been personally affected by adoption. By asking for feedback from the people it work with and whom it serves, the AAI will be able to improve its programmes and services, and better meet the needs of those it serves. The feedback received will help the AAI highlight the issues and priorities it should focus on over the next three years.

The survey questions cover several areas, including: engagement with the AAI; areas of strength and areas for improvement; performance; communication and collaboration; future focus; and any additional comments people may wish to provide.

Submissions from Mayo and elsewhere in Ireland will be used exclusively for developing the AAI’s next strategic plan. They 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.

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.

Lorraine said: “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.”

Orlaith Traynor, chairperson of the AAI board, added: “We look forward to conducting this public consultation ensuring that the AAI continues to be recognised as the centre of excellence and principal authoritative source of information on all aspects of adoption, and as a provider and regulator of high quality adoption services.”

The online survey will remain open until Monday, July 15. 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. For further details and to participate in the survey, visit this link.