There could be 2,000 children eligible for adoption from the foster care system when the legislation from the Children's Referendum is enacted.
This has led to calls for coherent planning ahead of the new laws.
The Minister for Children James Reilly is addressing a conference on the issue this morning.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland says adoption from foster care should be considered, when there is no prospect of the child returning home - and if the child is securely attached in the foster family.
Wayne Dignam of the Irish Care Leavers Network says each case would need to be assessed:
As it stands, a child may be put forward for adoption from foster care if parental rights or duties have been abandoned.
The new changes - which will come into effect when the Children’s Referendum is ratified - will allow children to move to permanent families if they've been in foster care for 3 years.
Adoption Agency Chair Geoffrey Shannon says there have only been 14 adoptions so far this year - out of 6,000 children in foster care.
He says the change will have a major impact.
