Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - Maternity Services.

Noel Ahern

Question:

169 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of babies born in the major hospitals in Dublin in recent months; the number born; the number born to non-national mothers; the numbers born to those granted or seeking asylum; and the trend over the past five years. [32397/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

My Department has been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) that the number of births in the eastern region has increased from 20,646 births in 1996 to 22,813 in the year 2000 with a further increase expected in 2001. The total number of live births for each of the three public maternity hospitals in Dublin for the period January to September 2001 is set out in the following table.

Rotunda	Holles Street	Coombe
4,980	5,987	5,776

Information in respect of the nationality of mothers attending maternity hospitals is not routinely collected by my Department. However, it is estimated by the ERHA that there will be about 3,000 births relating to asylum seekers in Dublin in 2001. I have asked the regional chief executive of the ERHA and the chief executive officers of the health boards to examine the matter and to reply directly to the Deputies.