Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:204 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the costs to the State of home births and hospital births. [26919/03]
Written Answers. - Maternity Services.
Data available to my Department indicates that the estimated cost to the State of a hospital birth ranged from €1,414 to €4,216 per birth in 2001, depending on the complexity of the case. These costs relate to the 32 hospitals included in the national case mix programme and are in respect of inpatient care only.
The information sought by the Deputy regarding the cost of home births is not readily available. My Department has asked the chief executive officers of the health boards and the regional chief executive of the ERHA for the relevant figures. This information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is received.