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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Down's Syndrome.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

227 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the Down's syndrome rate amongst infants since the State was founded or from when the relevant statistics were first taken. [15113/98]

National figures in relation to Down's syndrome are not available. As part of the birth notification system, statistical information is collected on each birth and includes specification of congenital birth defects. This data cannot, however, be used to provide national incidence figures for birth defects since the information is recorded shortly after the birth and many congenital anomalies, including Down's syndrome, may not be positively identified at this time.

A European project on congenital defects, EUROCAT, has operated in Ireland since 1979. At present it covers the Eastern Health Board region and Galway county. However, more comprehensive information should be available in the near future as a EUROCAT register has recently been set up in the Southern Health Board and a similar register is currently being developed in the North-Eastern Health Board.

The table below sets out the number of Down's syndrome births and rates per 10,000 live and still births for each year from 1980 to 1996 in the Eastern Health Board region and Galway county.

Year

Down's Syndrome Births

Rate per 10,000 Births

Eastern Health Board Region

Galway County

Eastern Health Board Region

Galway County

1980

57

N.A.

22

N.A.

1981

45

11

18

31

1982

44

10

18

30

1983

35

10

15

38

1984

40

4

18

12

1985

52

2

24

6

1986

43

6

20

19

1987

36

7

17

23

1988

35

7

18

24

1989

30

7

16

26

1990

35

10

18

37

1991

36

7

18

29

1992

40

5

21

16

1993

44

8

24

30

1994

40

4

22

19

1995

34

4

19

16

1996

56

7

30

27

N.A. indicates ‘not available'.
Source: EUROCAT register.
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