People adopted from outside Ireland face challenges about identity and race, report finds

Ellen O'Donoghue

Adults who were adopted from outside of Ireland as children can often feel isolated and may face discrimination, a study has found.

A report by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) found that adoptees experience the most challenges about their identity during adolescence.

The report, titled The Lived Experience of Intercountry Adopted Adults in Ireland, found there was a need for more prolonged post-adoption support for adoptive parents, and targeted supports for teenagers to help them navigate the challenge of adoptive identity development.

While some of these supports are already provided by Barnardos, many participants in the study were not aware of their existence, highlighting an opportunity for increased communication and promotion of such services to the people who need them.

Since 1991, 5,000 children have been adopted into the country, but this number started to decline in 2010 when the Adoption Act was introduced.

Minister for Children Norma Foley told Newstalk that home adoption has not replaced intercountry adoption, and foster systems remain the norm.

"More than 87 per cent of children in State care in this country are actually in foster care, which is a very high percentage, but I think it’s important that we look at all opportunities for children," Ms Foley said.

"For some the best place for them and what meets their needs is adoption, for others it’s foster care so we would have a suite of measures and supports."

Orlaith Traynor, the Chair of the AAI, highlighted the study's significance.

"Adoption is an intervention in a child’s life which has lifelong consequences. Today’s launch highlights the experiences of a small sample of intercountry-adopted people. Ireland has a responsibility to support its 5000-strong intercountry adopted population as they move through the lifespan, and I look forward to working with the Department of Children, Equality and Disability to progress the development of policies and services in this area."

Dr Judy Lovett, research officer with the AAI and author of the report, said: "Thanks to the time and effort of these participants, their generosity and enthusiasm in engaging with the research process, we now know more about the lived experience of intercountry adoption in Ireland. This will help us to contribute to the global knowledge base about this under-researched area".