Vol. 502 No. 3
352 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the date of the most recent published health statistics from his Department; the publication date of up to date health statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7953/99]
My Department publishes a wide range of health statistics including health services data, health status and lifestyle indicators, and vital statistics. Most recently in mid-February 1999, the public health information system was launched on electronic media. This system is distributed on CD-ROM and includes detailed current health statistics on demography, mortality, fertility and hospitalisation. It is intended to serve as a public health common data set to monitor key health indicators at regional and national level. The first results of the National Health and Lifestyle Survey carried out during 1998 have also been recently released.
Partly as a result of the extensive work required in the development of the public health information system, there have been unavoidable delays in the publication of a hardcopy annual report on health statistics. However, most of the statistical tables which form the content of the annual report continue to be available publicly on the Department's Internet website where they are regularly updated. From the perspectives of efficiency, timeliness, and accessibility, the Internet is without doubt the optimum medium for the dissemination of health statistics. Nevertheless, it is accepted that there is a continuing need for paper-based statistical reports at regular intervals. Work is now well advanced on a more comprehensive report which will bring data right up to 1998 inclusive. In line with departmental strategy towards the achievement of measurable health and social gain, much more data than previously will be included on health status and lifestyle indicators. It is expected that this report will be ready for publication in about three months.
