In the light of the recent incident at Erinville Hospital, I directed that existing security arrangements at maternity hospitals-units be the subject of immediate review and that each health board area furnish a report outlining arrangements currently in place, including details of alarm systems and any improvements which may be required.
The Deputy will be aware that a pilot infant tagging initiative was approved in October 1998 by my predecessor, Deputy Cowen, in respect of the Dublin maternity hospitals. Capital grants totalling over £400,000 were allocated to the Coombe, National Maternity and Rotunda Hospitals. The system was installed initially at the Coombe Hospital in early 1999 and was subsequently installed in the National Maternity and Rotunda Hospitals in late 1999. I understand from the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the system has been operating satisfactorily since its introduction. I point out that the system was introduced to supplement or improve the hospitals' existing security arrangements.