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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Teenage Pregnancies.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

100 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of teenage mothers in each of the years from 1995 to 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2098/00]

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below.

Births to Women Aged Under 20 Years, 1995 to 1998

1995

1996*

1997*

1998*

2,467

2,700

2,894

3,138

*Provisional figures based on year of registration.
Source: Central Statistics Office.
This year my Department has provided £2 million additional funding for the development of family planning and pregnancy counselling services. Of this amount, £400,000 will be used to fund campaigns to educate young people on a range of family planning-sexual health issues. Health boards have been asked to concentrate service developments on measures aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancies in the 15 to 34 age group. Several boards are considering initiatives aimed particularly at teenagers with a view to reducing the number of births to teenage mothers.
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