Birth Statistics.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004

Wednesday, 7 April 2004

Ceisteanna (81)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

74 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of births in the State in 1980 and in the latest year for which figures are available; the average length of stay of mothers giving birth for the years in question; the steps he has taken to establish the nationality of mothers who give birth at the Dublin maternity hospitals; if he has received a request for additional resources for the Dublin maternity hospitals; if he has satisfied himself with the level of resources available to the Dublin maternity hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10801/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Data on births are compiled by the Central Statistics Office and published in the annual and quarterly reports on vital statistics. The total number of births in 1980 was 74,064 and the provisional total for 2002 was 60,521.

Returns to my Department for 1980 from publicly funded hospitals show an average length of stay for all maternity patients of 5.9 days compared with 3.4 days in 2002.

Services at the Dublin maternity hospitals are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matters raised by the Deputy and to reply to her directly.