ADDITIONAL FEES

I haven't updated this blog in a while.  Mostly, I suppose, because not much has been happening - I'm at the waiting stage hoping for a referral soon.  So I've just been waiting and waiting - not much to write about there!

I keep an eye on the MOJ weekly updates to keep my spirits up and I have been cheered to see an increase in referrals recently.

According to my calculations, in 2010 there were around 340 referrals made from Bulgaria but in 2011 there were just over 400.  Hopefully this means the wait is decreasing for all us PAP's.  Just as I was spurred on by this good news we got news of increased fees as we now have to use an Irish Agency as well as the Bulgarian Agency to be Hague Compliant.


Ireland ratified the Hague Convention by the enactment of the Adoption Act 2010 on 1st November 2010.  A new agency was set up to deal with our Adoptions from Bulgaria and it now seems that our costs will be double what we had previously been quoted.  I am outraged by this as we have done all the paper work etc ourselves so far and the only thing left will be the flow of documentation back and forth from Bulgaria in relation to our referral, and the acceptance of that referral . 

I am feeling totally disheartened at this point.  Adoption is supposed to be in the interest of the Children and I cannot see how such substantially increased fees can be justified or how they are in the interest of the Child.

I don't mean to moan but just needed to vent my frustration.