Adoption Act 2010

Children who may be adopted.

23.— (1) The Authority shall not make an adoption order unless the child—

(a) resides in the State,

(b) at the date of the application, is not more than 7 years of age,

(c) is an orphan or is born of parents not married to each other, and

(d) has been in the care of the applicants for the prescribed period (if any).

(2) The Authority, having regard to the particular circumstances of the case, may make an adoption order notwithstanding that the child has not been in the care of the applicants for the prescribed period under subsection (1)(d).