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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Down's Syndrome Incidence.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

350 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the incidence of Down's syndrome births in each of the past five years; the research, if any, under way in this regard; if so, the scope of the research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7935/99]

Research into the incidence of Down's syndrome is conducted in the Eastern Health Board region by the Dublin EUROCAT registry, which collects congenital anomaly data, including Down's syndrome, on all births to mothers resident in counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. Data from the register is provided to the Central Eurocat Register in Brussels, which collates congenital anomaly data on births from a range of European locations. Data from the Dublin register covering the years 1980-96 is expected to be published next June.

The incidence of Down's syndrome in the eastern region in the last five year period for which complete information is available is as follows:

Year

Number of Births

1993

44

1994

41

1995

35

1996

56

1997

35

Data on incidences of Down's syndrome is also collected for the western region by the Galway EUROCRAT registry. The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in respect of the western region, and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
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