Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The Central Statistics Office published the report on vital statistics for 2002 on 31 January this year, when it was also laid before this House. The main statistics contained in the report had already been published, classified by year of registration, in the CSO quarterly vital statistics reports. The annual report gives a further breakdown in respect of births, deaths and stillbirths occurring in 2002. Information on marriages registered in that year was not included but will be published separately later this year. The report on vital statistics contains a wealth of information on chronicling changes in Ireland's social and demographic development.

Some of the main general findings include the following. The number of births in 2002 was 60,503, giving a rate of 15.4 births per 1,000 population, an increase on the 2001 rate of 15 births. The total period fertility rate was 1.98 in 2002, which is somewhat below the replacement level of 2.1 children, generally taken to be the level at which a generation would replace itself in the long run, ignoring migration, but is still the highest rate in the EU 15 region. The number of deaths occurring during 2002 was 29,683, giving a rate of 7.6 deaths per 1,000 population. This was a decrease on the 2001 rate of 7.9 deaths.

For the benefit of Deputies, I am circulating a statement summarising the principal findings of the 2002 report.

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