asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to initiate any investigation into the factors which contribute to an infant mortality rate among the children of unskilled manual workers of three times that among the children of middle-class professional parents; if it is intended to take any measures to lower the infant mortality rate, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Infant Mortality Rate.
31.
I presume the figures to which the Deputy refers were taken from the first Perinatal Statistics report which was published recently by my Department based on a study of births which took place during 1984. In general the overall infant mortality rate for this country compares well with that of other countries. Within the overall rate there are some differences in rates for perinatal mortality, deaths during the first week of life, between the different socio-economic groups. I have asked the new Advisory Council on Health Promotion to look generally at any inequalities in the pattern of health and to advise me on any measures which may be required to provide greater equity in the provision of health care.
The Deputy will be aware that influences which give rise to differences in morbidity and mortality between socio-economic groups are almost certainly of social origin and would include fundamental areas such as education, housing and inadequacy. The health promotion unit of my Department will be addressing the health educational needs identified in the report and the question of health inequalities with a view to more specific targeting of appropriate services. I might add that in this regard the unit will have the support of the Advisory Council on Health Promotion which I established recently.