03 July 2023

A total of 17,730 adopted persons, birth parents, and other relatives have now registered with the Adoption Authority of Ireland to state their preferences about making contact with birth relatives.

Latest figures show that 3,270 people have joined the new Contact Preference Register (CPR), which was established on July 1 2022 as part of the enactment of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022. The CPR replaces the old National Adoption Contact Preference Register (NACPR), on which 14,460 people were registered.

The Birth Information and Tracing Act provides legal entitlement, where available, to full and unrestricted access to birth certificates, birth, early life, care, and medical information for any person who was adopted, boarded out, had their birth illegally registered, or who otherwise has questions in relation to their origins. The new law also creates a statutory tracing service for those affected by adoption who are seeking to make contact with birth relatives.
Services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act are provided free of charge.

Persons wishing to make contact, to request privacy, or to seek or share information with a birth relative, can register their preferences via an application to the CPR, which is operated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

Of the 3,270 applications submitted to the CPR since July 1 2022, 2,814 are from adopted persons, 458 are from birth parents and other relatives, and 13 are illegal birth registration applicants. Of the applications, 2,858 have come from Ireland, 213 from the UK, 96 from the USA, and 103 from people in other countries around the world.

Dublin is the county with the most applicants, followed by Cork, and then Kildare. The county with the fewest applicants is Leitrim. (Please see appendix with breakdown of applicants by county).

Since the opening of the CPR there have been 240 matches and the Adoption Authority has facilitated 86 family reunifications.
Any person who wishes to register or update their contact preferences can do so at any time by visiting www.birthinfo.ie and filling out an online application form.

Counselling services for birth parents or relevant persons affected are now available free of charge. Applications can be made by contacting Tusla at 0818 44 55 00 or by emailing BITCounselling@tusla.ie

Infographic with key information points
Press Statement including Notes for Editors