179. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the section of the Child and Family Relationships Bill 2015 dealing with adoption by step parents will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29373/15]

The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was enacted in March of this year. It includes amendments to the Adoption Act 2010, to enable civil partners and cohabiting couples who have lived together for 3 years to be eligible to apply to adopt a child jointly. There are no provisions specifically for step parent adoption in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. Work is ongoing in the Department in this regard.