Jim Higgins
Question:528 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children born in each county with Down's Syndrome in each of the past years, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. [1030/01]
Written Answers. - Patient Statistics.
Research into the incidence of Down's Syndrome is conducted for the Eastern Regional Health Authority by the Dublin EUROCAT registry, which collects congenital anomaly data, including Down's syndrome, on all births to mothers in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. Data on incidences of Down's syndrome is also collected for the Western Health Board by the Galway EUROCAT registry, which collects the same data on all births to mothers for Galway only. There are no statistics available from other regions similar to the EUROCAT registries in the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Western Health Board.
A breakdown of the number in each of the above counties is attached. The figures for Galway are in respect of 1996, 1997 and 1998. I will forward the figures for 1999 and 2000 when they are received from the Western Health Board to the Deputy.
Numbers of children born with Down's Syndrome
from 1996-2000
|
County |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000* |
|
Dublin |
42 |
28 |
43 |
33 |
28 |
|
Kildare |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
|
Wicklow |
10 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
Galway |
7 |
3 |
13 |
||
|
Total |
64 |
34 |
65 |
37 |
34 |
*The data for the year 2000 is incomplete, and it is likely that further cases will be included on the registry, especially from the latter part of the year.