Vol. 394 No. 8
79 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the infant mortality rate among children of the travelling community; the way in which this compares with the population in general; the steps, if any, he intends to take to increase life expectancy among children of the travelling community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Health Research Board recently released a report which analysed the health status of travellers. This report stated that the infant mortality rate for travellers in 1987 was 18.1 per 1,000 live births compared to the national figure of 7.4 per 1,000 live births. I am concerned about these statistics. I am consulting with the various health boards in relation to how this situation might be improved.
