Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022

The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 was passed in July 2022 on foot of the Government's response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. This ensures that from the 3rd of October 2022 birth information, medical information alongside early life information may be accessed by the following:

• An Adopted person (over 18)
• An Adopted person (16-18)
• Individuals birth illegally registered 
• Person nursed out/boarded out
• Person resident in an institution
• A next of kin of any of the above
• Adoptive parents
• Individual who provided care for the child
• A person who was a relevant gaurdian

The legislation also provides for the establishment of a robust and comprehensive Tracing Service and a statutory Contact Preference Register to facilitate contact or share information.

The new Contact Preference Register will replace the existing administrative National Adoption Contact Preference Register. It will be a living register which will enable ongoing registering of contact preferences, lodging of information, and information sharing. All current contact preferences lodged with the existing register will be transferred over to the new register.

The new Tracing Service will be provided by Tusla - the Child and Family Agency, or the Adoption Authority, to help locate and facilitate contact and information sharing  - with consent -  between birth parents and adopted children. It will allow tracing to take place for the following purposes:

• Tracing for contact
• Tracing to share information
• Tracing to request information

Example

A birth mother may apply to have an entry made on the Contact Preference Register indicating that she is willing (or not) to make contact or to provide information to the child that she placed for adoption.

A person who was adopted may also apply to have an entry made on the register indicating that s/he is willing (or not) to make contact with the birth parent/s.

The Tracing Service will establish the willingness (or not) to have contact with the other party and take appropriate action to facilitate the contact. Where one of the parties is unwilling to agree to contact, the agency will inform the other party of this position.

Further Information

Further information can be found below via the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla - the Child and Family Agency

Information on tracing services currently provided by Tusla can be found here.

Applications can also be made directly via birthinfo.ie.

Contacts

 *Contact the Information and Tracing Unit:

• Tel: 01 2309300 (option 3)
• Email: tracing@aai.gov.ie 

   Contact the Social Work Unit:

• Tel: 01 2309306 or if outside ROI, +353-1-2309306
• Email: SW@aai.gov.ie