Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 4

Written Answers. - Pregnancy Terminations in Britain.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

27 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health the latest figures available for the number of Irish women who have travelled to the UK for abortions in each of the past five years; if, in view of the increase in such cases, he has any plans to ask the health boards to provide post termination counselling or medical care in this country; the progress, if any, that has been made with regard to the commitment given in the Programme for a Partnership Government, 1993-1997, that legislation would be introduced to regulate the position arising from the X case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The following table sets out the numbers of women resident in Ireland who had pregnancy terminations in Britain in each of the last five years. The information is supplied by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the United Kingdom.

1988	3,839
1989	3,721
1990	4,064
1991	4,154
1992	4,247*

* provisional figure.

In relation to the health and welfare needs of such women, a broad range of services is currently provided by the statutory and voluntary health agencies. In the case of medical needs, obstetric and gynaecology services are available in public general hospitals which can be availed of where necessary.

Psychological and counselling services are provided both by the health boards and by voluntary agencies which are in receipt of specific funding in that regard from my Department.

As stated in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government intends to introduce legislation to regulate the position arising from the "X" case.