Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 3

Written Answers - Miscarriage Incidence.

Seán Power

Question:

135 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give an approximate figure for the number of women who miscarried for each of the years since 1990; if he has satisfied himself that these women have received proper care after their ordeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25128/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

Information on the number of women who have miscarried is not routinely collected by my Department and it is not therefore possible to provide an estimate of the overall number or rate of occurrence. In addition, it should be noted that miscarriages which occur very early in pregnancy may go entirely undetected. In order to assist the Deputy with some indicative data, I have had information collected in recent days from the three Dublin voluntary maternity hospitals in respect of 1990-7, which is outlined in the following table:

Year	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
No. of Miscarriages	2,380	2,512	2,430	2,203	2,278	2,176	2,177	2,193

Maternity hospitals endeavour to ensure that women who have suffered the trauma of miscarriage are afforded the maximum privacy and understanding at their time of bereavement. They also try to ensure in association with other statutory agencies that appropriate counselling and support services are provided to assist women at such a difficult time.