Section 49 National minimum standards
137.This section empowers the appropriate Minister to prepare and publish national minimum standards applicable to relevant local authority adoption and fostering functions, mirroring the provision in Part II for voluntary adoption agencies and fostering agencies. As provided for in Part II, any new standards or significant changes must be subject to consultation before being issued, and a failure to comply with the national minimum standards will be taken into account by the registration authority in deciding whether a local authority has met the regulatory requirements.