People affected by adoption, boarding out, or time spent in a Mother and Baby Home are being invited to share feedback on how the State’s birth records and tracing services are working in practice. This new consultation on gov.ie-related public services highlights the lived experience of those using the Birth Information and Tracing Act, with an anonymous survey now open for responses.
The survey is aimed at anyone who has used, considered using, or been affected by Birth Information and Tracing Services delivered by Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland. It has been commissioned by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and is designed to help inform how these sensitive services operate in future.
gov.ie update on Birth Information and Tracing Act feedback
Under the current law, people who were adopted, boarded out, or born in a Mother and Baby Home can request important personal records and background details. These rights are a significant part of Ireland’s broader effort to improve access to identity information, personal history, and family tracing supports.
What information people can access
- Your birth certificate
- Details about your birth, early life, and care
- Information about your own medical history
- Information relating to the medical history of a genetic relative
- The option to add your details to the Adoption Authority’s Contact Preference Register
The new survey is not a legal application for records. Instead, it is a chance for people to explain whether the service has been helpful, difficult to access, or in need of improvement. That feedback may support future policy thinking across public bodies including Tusla, the Citizens Information Board, and relevant departments working through gov.ie channels.
Read more: Ireland public service updates, digital government benefits and citizen access guide
Who should take the survey and why it matters
The consultation is open to people with direct experience of the Birth Information and Tracing Services, as well as those who wanted to use the service but did not proceed. Because the survey is anonymous, participants can share their views privately. It takes between 10 and 30 minutes to complete, participation is voluntary, and respondents can skip any question they do not wish to answer.
This kind of feedback matters because access to records often intersects with wider issues involving Health, Social Protection, identity documentation, and family history. In Ireland, public trust in services is shaped not only by frontline agencies such as Tusla, but also by the wider ecosystem that includes the Health Service Executive (HSE), Department of the Taoiseach, and oversight-focused institutions that support public accountability.
Key deadline to know
Anyone who wants to take part must submit the online survey by 5pm on 10 July 2026.
Explore more: Irish government news, public information rights and family record access explained
How this fits into Ireland’s public information landscape
For many people, tracing birth records is not simply an administrative process. It can involve identity, medical knowledge, family connection, and emotional closure. That is why updates linked to gov.ie, the Adoption Authority, and Tusla continue to attract attention across Ireland. Services like these sit alongside the work of bodies such as the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochána, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), and the Data Protection Commission (DPC), all of which reflect the State’s responsibility to manage personal information carefully and lawfully.
People looking for practical guidance can also review official information on tracing a birth family or requesting birth information through public service resources. For anyone eligible, this survey is an opportunity to influence how the system works for future applicants.
In short, this gov.ie-connected consultation is a meaningful chance to shape services around the Birth Information and Tracing Act. If you have relevant experience, submitting feedback before the deadline could help improve access, clarity, and support for others across Ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: Citizens Information
