asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing maternity services in 1987 in the Republic of Ireland; if he will give a break-down of these costs on the following basis: (a) the maternity and infant care scheme, (b) ante-natal and post-natal care provided by public health nurses, (c) maternity hospitals and units, (d) VHI payments for hospital maintenance, (e) obstetrician and anaesthetists' fees and (f) other domiciliary maternity services.
Written Answers. - Maternity Services
84.
The total cost of maternity services cannot be estimated since, as detailed below, the maternity element of certain general services cannot be isolated. The estimates sought in so far as they are available, are as follows for 1987:
(a) Fees paid under Maternity and Infant Care Scheme were £1.1 million.
(b) The cost of the ante-natal and post-natal care element of the public health nursing service cannot be isolated.
(c) The total gross expenditure by the six public maternity hospitals (Coombe, Rotunda, National Maternity Hospital, Erinville, Limerick Maternity Hospital and Waterford Maternity Hospital) was £34.1 million. This includes the cost of gynaecology and paediatric services provided in these hospitals. It is not possible to isolate the cost of maternity services in general hospitals.
(d) VHI payments for maternity care under its Hospital Benefit came to £7.3 million in the year ending 29 February 1988.
(e) VHI payments for obstetricians' and anaesthetists' fees in maternity cases under its Fees Benefit came to £1.95 million in the year ending 20 February 1988.
(f) No information available.