Vol. 506 No. 2
243 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of babies born to non-nationals to date in 1999; the comparison figures for each of the years from 1995 to 1998; the number of babies born where either parent is not an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14991/99]
Statistics on the number of babies born to non-nationals in this country are not routinely collected on that basis by the hospitals concerned. However, I am aware that at one maternity hospital the number of births in this category accounted for approximately 4 per cent of overall births in 1998.
I have made provision in this year's financial allocation to the maternity hospitals to enable them to deal with the increase in activity associated with the overall rise in the birth rate. I will also be including the matter of demographic pressures in forthcoming discussions on the financial Estimates for the health services.
