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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990

Vol. 394 No. 8

Written Answers. - Mortality Statistics.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

63 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if any investigation has been held into the exceptional level of deaths reported during the Christmas period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Bell

Question:

102 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who died in health board and voluntary hospitals, region by region, in (a) the months of December 1989 and January 1990, and (b) for the same period in each of the previous three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 102 together.

I have initiated a special inquiry, under the direction of the chief medical officer of the Department, into the reported abnormal increase in the number of deaths during the Christmas period.

His initial report confirms that there had been an increase in the number of deaths over the same period last year. Some of this increase can be attributed to the complications of influenza in elderly people with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Samples provided to the Virus Reference Laboratory by doctors have confirmed that the flu epidemic was country-wide. A full report will be made to me when an analysis of death registrations by cause for the relevant period compared with other years, is completed by the CSO.

I will make these figures available to the Deputies as soon as I receive them.

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