FAQs
Frequently Asked questions: Tracing Service
1. Can I apply for a trace and who can I trace?
Who can Apply? | Who can I trace? |
|---|---|
A relevant person* | You can trace any birth relative |
If you are a birth relative of a relevant person | You can trace a relevant* person |
If you are a relative of a relevant person by way of the relevant person’s adoptive family | You can trace a relevant person |
If you are an adoptive parent of an adopted child under 18 years of age at the time of trace | You can trace anyone for the purpose of obtaining important information, such as medical information (In this instance the views of the child are very important and evidence of their consent or agreement need to be obtained). |
2. *Who is a relevant person?
The four categories of person referred to as a “relevant person” are:
- an adopted person
- a person who is, or suspects they are, the subject of an illegal birth registration
- a person who was nursed out or boarded out or suspects they may have been nursed out or boarded out
- a person who does not fall into any of the above categories but who resided as a child in an institution listed in the Act
All persons must be over 18 years to apply for a tracing service
3. How can I apply?
From October
- You can make an online application through the Tusla portal. How you do this will be our website.
- You can send your application by post to Tusla, from October.
Please note that the quickest and most secure way to process your application is through the Tusla portal. To ensure your personal information is safe we cannot accept applications by email.
4. Where can I get assistance with my application?
If you need assistance with your online application from October, we can accommodate you at any of our Tusla adoption offices nationwide. A list of our local offices will be available from October. If you live outside Ireland there will be a dedicated local office you can contact for assistance.
5. Will I need to send anything else with my application?
Yes, you will need to send:
(a) Photographic I.D. (which must contain your full name and date of birth). Acceptable forms of identity include:
- Driver’s licence
- Passport
- Garda Age Card
- Other form of state-issued I.D.
(b) Proof of address: Please ensure to include proof of your address linked to your name (example – utility bill, bank statement, letter from Revenue)
If you are the son or daughter of a relevant person you will need to include your parent’s Birth and Death Certificates.
If you are a next of kin, you will need to include Birth and Death Certificates of the person whose information you wish to apply for.
In cases of illegal birth registrants, the Birth Certificate and Death Certificate of the relevant person at the time they were issued will be accepted.
6. If I make an application, what happens then?
If you were born in Ireland once we receive your application, we will review it to ensure that it is complete and that you are eligible to apply.
If the application is deemed incomplete, you will be contacted and one of our team will assist you with your application.
When your application is deemed complete, it will be transferred to the Tracing Social Work Team in the area where you live and will be allocated as set down by the guidelines due to be published by the minister.
If you live outside of Ireland, your application will be sent to a dedicated Tusla Social Work Tracing Team who will respond to all tracing requests from overseas. Your application will follow the same sequence of steps as would be the case if you applied in Ireland.
7. How long will my trace take/ how long does it take to find a person?
Due to the complexities of searching for a person it is not possible to estimate how long a search will take. However, the new Birth information and Tracing Act has given Tusla greater powers to search for, and identify persons sought. In certain circumstances we may locate the person quickly, in other circumstances it may take longer to do so. Tusla will take all reasonable steps to trace and locate the person.
8. What if I have information already?
If you have any information, it would be helpful if you could share this with us when you make an application as it may assist with your trace.
9. What if the person I am tracing does not want contact?
If we contact the person that you are seeking and they express a wish not to have contact with you, we will attempt to explore with them the reasons why.
It is important to be aware that the person may be experiencing a variety of feelings around this contact, such as curiosity, excitement, concern, and anxiety.
This may be the first contact they have had about you.
While you have had time to consider and make this decision to trace, this contact could come as a shock to them.
For many, this may come as a welcome surprise, but this may not be the case for everyone.
Nevertheless, over time, with support, and an opportunity to express worries or concerns to your social worker, who will act as an independent mediator, they may wish to engage in contact.
10. Can I initiate and trace more than one person at a time?
Yes, you may apply to trace more than one person. A separate application must be made for each person you wish to trace.
11. Do I have to wait for a trace?
Yes, it is anticipated that there will be timelines for allocation in tracing cases and these will be set out in the guidelines issued by the Minister in due course.
12. Is there a prioritisation system in place?
Yes, it is anticipated that there will be a prioritisation system in the guidelines issued by the Minister.
13. I am already on the waiting list. Do I have to re-apply?
We will engage with persons on the waiting list shortly by letter, this will be with a view to seeing what your application entails, if you are eligible under the new Act and what next steps, we may take with you to assist you with your application.
14. Do I have to pay for a Tracing Service?
No, this is a FREE SERVICE, and you will never be charged by Tusla or the AAI for a tracing request.
15. As part of a trace, will Tusla share information with other designated/relevant services or agencies?
Yes, to initiate a trace, Tusla will have to share some of your information with relevant services or agencies. Your social worker will only share your information for the purposes of finding relevant information about the person you are seeking. Tusla will only share your information with ‘designated/relevant services or agencies’ which are listed under the Act and will do so in line with data protection regulation.
16. Can I apply for a trace from 1st July 2022?
No. Applications will open on the October.
17. Where can I go for further information?
You can find information about the new Act on www.birthinfo.ie from the 1st July. You can also find more information about tracing at www.tusla.ie.
You can find information about the new Act on www.birthinfo.ie from the 1st July. You can also find more information about tracing at https://www.tusla.ie/services/birth-information-and-tracing-and-adoption/information-and-tracing/