Tony Gregory
Question:56 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the assistance and/or funding he will make available to the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association.
Written Answers. - Irish Sudden Infant Death Association.
P. J. Sheehan
Question:66 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if he will make funding available to the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association in 1994, to enable the association to complete the establishment of a National Sudden Infant Death Register.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:158 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he will make funds available for cot death research and support programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Seán Barrett
Question:159 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is made available to the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association to enable them to continue their research and support programmes in this area.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 56, 66, 158 and 159 together.
At present, my Department is in the third year of a three year commitment to fund the National Sudden Infant Death Register which is run by the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association. The total funding commitment over the three year period is £70,500.
A separate contribution of £5,000 has been made this year towards the costs of a case control study which is being conducted by the Association and a contribution of £5,000 was also made last year.
In addition, the Health Promotion Unit of my Department ran an information campaign on Sudden Infant Death Sydrome in conjunction with the Association; £9,975 was made available for this campaign in 1992 and a further £3,130 this year.
The Association has recently made a submission to me regarding funding and a meeting took place between the Association and officials of my Department on 22 November last.
As a result of this meeting a number of measures to provide further support for the Association are being considered at present.