Vol. 522 No. 2
253 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of sudden infant cot deaths in each of the years from 1996 to date; and the moneys made available for the research into the cause of these deaths for the same period. [18305/00]
The numbers of deaths registered by the national sudden infant death register for the years referred to by the Deputy are: 1996 – 38; 1997 – 54; 1998 – 40; 1999 – 46 (provisional); 2000 – (not yet available).
My Department has provided funding to the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association – ISIDA – for the operation of the national sudden infant death register, which has been in existence since 1991, and has provided much valuable information in relation to the incidence of sudden infant death in Ireland. The amounts provided towards research into this area are as follows: 1996 – £40,000 towards the cost of the national sudden infant death register; 1997 – £103,231 towards the cost of the national sudden infant death register; £15,000 was also provided to the ISIDA towards the cost of an international conference on sudden infant death syndrome involving eminent researchers, professionals and bereaved families; £5,000 was also provided by the health promotion unit of my Department to the ISIDA to facilitate the printing of information booklets and posters alerting parents to the factors which may contribute to sudden infant deaths; 1998 – £80,287 was provided to the ISIDA towards the cost of the sudden infant death register and in order to initiate a bereavement counselling service; a sum of £3,600 was also provided to the ISIDA in respect of the finalisation of their study into the role of toxic chemicals in sudden infant death syndrome; 1999 – from 1999 a sum of £160,000 was allocated on an ongoing basis to the ISIDA towards the cost of the national sudden infant death register and its related research and service budgets. My Department will continue to support the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association, both in its efforts to identify the causes of sudden infant death and in its work in supporting affected families.
