Information & Tracing - Brief Introduction

The number of people and, in particular, the number of adopted people and natural parents seeking adoption information or looking to trace has increased dramatically in recent years.

The Adoption Board will assist adopted people, parents who have placed children for adoption, adoptive parents, and natural family members of people placed for adoption.

People may request information on themselves or they may wish to seek to ‘trace' that is make some form of contact.

If you are seeking information or seeking to trace should in the first instance contact the Adoption Agency or Health Board which arrange the adoption. If you are unsure of the agency or Health Board you can contact the Adoption Board who will be able to refer you to the correct agency or Health Board.

National Adoption Contact Preference Register Form

The National Adoption Contact Preference Register Application form is also available from:

The Adoption Board - Free-phone 1800 309 300.
Your local Health Service Executive Office.
Your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

National Adoption Contact Preference Register Press Release

Update on the National Adoption Contact Preference Register – 12th September 2006

The National Adoption Contact Preference Register was launched on the 31^st March 2005. The application forms for registration were distributed nationwide by An Post from the week beginning 11^th April 2005. Application forms are also available from our website www.adoptionboard.ie or by contacting the Information and Tracing Unit of the Adoption Board.

Entry of completed application forms on to the Register commenced at the end of May 2005. Each application form was acknowledged if requested and carefully scrutinised prior to entry on the Register. There are 5,700 entries on the Register and we are currently receiving 15/20 applications per week.

To date over 200 matches have been identified and referred to various agencies for mediation.

Update on the Rotunda Girls Aid Society (RGAS)

"The Adoption Board has been advised that the files of the R.G.A.S. have now transferred to the Health Service Executive (H.S.E.) by agreement between the Archbishop of Dublin and the H.S.E. The H.S.E. will now provide an Information and Tracing Service on behalf of R.G.A.S. clients.

All enquiries should be addressed to: Principal Social Worker, Information & Tracing Service, 1^st Floor, Park House, North Circular Road, Dublin 7. Tel: 01-8387122."