asked the Minister for Health if his Department are monitoring the number of cot deaths; if so, will he state the numbers involved; and if his Department are financing any research in this area.
Written Answers. - Cot Deaths.
19.
My Department do not explicitly monitor the number of cot deaths. However, the Medico-Social Research Board monitor the number of sudden infant deaths in the Eastern Health Board area. Their report for 1984 indicates that: during 1984 there were 45 such deaths in the Eastern Health Board area among babies resident in Dublin city and county; five deaths in Kildare and four in Wicklow; the average incidence for the Eastern Health Board area was 2.5 per 1,000 live births which was similar to previous years.
The number of deaths registered nationally as due to sudden infant death syndrome in 1982, the latest year for which figures have been published, is 157. My Department are not currently funding any other research on sudden infant death syndrome.