A new service to support children who are adopted from abroad and their families was unveiled today by Barnardos.
The scheme, the first of its kind in the country, will assist the 400 children from all over the world who become part of Irish family life every year.
The Barnardos service, which is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE), will offer counselling to youngsters, hold open information meetings, and provide a national post adoption help-line and e-mail advice service to parents and adopted children.
It will also support adults trying to trace their origins and reunite with their birth families.
Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive of Barnardos, said the number of children being adopted into Ireland is rising every year from various countries including Russia, China and Thailand.
"Barnardos new post-adoption will support parents to help their child to adjust to their new home, family and environment, and it will provide a helping hand to children who may have questions about their origins or have issues settling in," he said.
A recent study on inter-country adoption, carried out by the Children's Research Centre, revealed Ireland has one of the highest rates of foreign adoption in the world, with parents and children both needing additional support.
Mr Finlay said the study found some children experienced prejudice relating to their adoptive status, skin colour, or country of birth.
The HSE said its Intercountry Adoption Service covering Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow was pleased to facilitate the new initiative.