Written Answers. - Cot Deaths.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
37
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Health
the number of cot deaths in each of the last three years; and the amount of Government funding made available (1) for research, (2) for the maintenance of the sudden infant death syndrome register and (3) to support the activities of the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association.
The number of registered cot deaths in each of the last three years is set out in the following table:
Registered Cot Deaths.
|
1987
|
1988
|
1989
|
|
127
|
124
|
99
|
The Health Research Board, which is a statutory independent body established to promote, assist, commission or conduct medical, health and health services research, is funding a two year research project at the Rotunda and Temple Street Hospitals which is investigating the pathology of placenta associated with sudden infant death syndrome. The project received £15,000 in 1989 and £20,000 this year.
In recognition of the important role of the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association, I have given the association a grant of £5,800 in 1990 towards the costs of printing its booklet on sudden infant death. In that regard a request for a grant of approximately £6,000 is currently under consideration by my Department.
In addition an annual grant of £1,000 is paid by the Eastern Health Board to the association to enable it to carry on its various activities, which include counselling and supporting families affected.
Information on the incidence of sudden infant death is currently published by the Central Statistics Office on a quarterly and annual basis in its Report on Vital Statistics and is widely available.
Following a proposal from the scientific sub-committee of the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association, I have agreed to investigate the feasibility of establishing a sudden infant death register which will provide additional epidemiological data. The scope of data collected by the CSO is being examined to determine the potential of such a register. The question of funding will be considered in due course.
