Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that one in five births or 23% are by caesarean section despite World Health Organisation recommendations that caesarean rates should not exceed 15%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15468/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of births by caesarean section. Approximately one in five births are now performed through this procedure.

The decision to perform a caesarean section is a clinical one that is taken by qualified medical practitioners. Reasons suggested for the increasing caesarean rates include more widespread availability of foetal monitoring with subsequent earlier surgical intervention and greater patient awareness and demand.

At the request of the chief medical officer of the Department of Health and Children, the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists considered the increase in rates. In its view, there is unlikely to be a single cause responsible. However, it is suggested that better and more comprehensive data would allow the issue to be considered in greater depth.

In March 2006, I announced the establishment of a new national perinatal epidemiology centre in Cork University Hospital that will be up and running in the autumn of 2006, with annual funding of €630,000. Every time a mother gives birth, the important interventions, including caesarean sections, the good outcomes and the complications will be recorded and analysed at the centre.