Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the Central Statistics Office publication Vital Statistics Fourth Quarter 2005 and Yearly Summary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24027/06]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Central Statistics Office published the Fourth Quarter and Yearly Summary on Vital Statistics for 2005 on the 15th of June this year, when it was also laid before this House. The statistics contained in the report are classified by year of registration. The Fourth Quarter and Yearly Summary 2005 contains a wealth of information on Ireland's social and demographic development. Some of the main general findings include:

∙The number of births registered in 2005 was 61,042. This was 642 fewer than the number registered in 2004.The total period fertility rate (TPFR), was 1.88 children in 2005. This was lower than the 2004 rate of 1.95 children, but is still the highest rate in the EU.

∙The number of deaths registered in 2005 was 27,441. This was 710 fewer than the number registered in 2004.

∙The number of marriages registered in 2005 was 20,723. This was 104 more than the number registered in 2004.

∙The number of divorces granted by the Circuit Court and the High Court in 2005 was 3,433. This was 86 more than the corresponding 2004 figure.

For the benefit of Deputies, the following statement summarises the principal findings of the 2005 Yearly Summary.

Summary of main points from the 2005 Yearly Summary

∙The number of births that was registered in 2005 was 61,042 comprisong 31,369 males and 29,673 females. This was a decrease of 642 on the 2004 figure. The birth rate in 2005 was 14.8 births per 1,000 population. This was a decrease on the 2004 figure of 15.3 births per 1,000 population.

∙40.5% of births registered in 2005 were to first time mothers. 32% of births were to second time mothers. 17% of births were to third time mothers. 10.5% of births were to mothers who already had three or more live born children.

∙The average age at maternity was 31.0 years in 2005, compared with an average age of 30.8 years in 2004. The average age at first birth was 28.7 years in 2005, compared with an average age of 28.5 years in 2004.

∙The number of births outside marriage registered in 2005 was 19,528. This was 410 fewer births outside marriage than registered in 2004. 32% of all births registered in 2005 were outside marriage.

∙The total period fertility rate (TPFR) gives the theoretical average number of children who would be born alive to a woman during her lifetime if she were to pass through her childbearing years conforming to the age-specific fertility rates of a given year. The TPFR in 2005 was 1.88 children. This was a decrease on the 2004 figure of 1.95 children.

∙The number of deaths registered during 2005 was 27,441, comprising 13,904 males and 13,537 females. This was a decrease of 710 on the 2004 figure.

∙Of the deaths registered in 2005, 28% were due to cancer; 24% of deaths were due to ischaemic and other forms of heart disease; 12% of deaths were due to other diseases of the circulatory system; 14% of deaths were due to diseases of the respiratory system.

∙There were 431 deaths due to suicide, 353 male and 78 female deaths.

∙During 2005 the number of deaths of infants under one year was 244 compared with 300 in 2004. The infant death rate in 2005 was 4.0 per 1,000 live births. This was a decrease on the 2004 figure of 4.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. The Irish rate is lower than the current estimated EU average of 4.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. 35% of infant deaths occurred on their first day.

∙The number of marriages registered during 2005 was 20,723. This was 104 more than the number registered in 2004. The number of divorces granted by the Circuit Court and the High Court was 3,433. This was 86 more than the corresponding 2004 figure.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the Central Statistics Office publication Consumer Prices, Bi-Annual Average Price Analysis, Dublin and Outside Dublin, May 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24028/06]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In May and November of each year the Central Statistics Office (CSO) undertakes a special average price analysis for Dublin and Outside Dublin using the prices collected for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for those months. The CSO collects approximately 55,000 prices quotations at various locations throughout the State for a range of goods and services for the purpose of compiling the monthly CPI. From this extensive database it has been possible to calculate comparable average prices for two regions, namely Dublin and Outside Dublin, in respect of 73 common goods and services. These 73 goods and services account for approximately 24.5% of the total value of the CPI basket of goods and services. The results of this exercise have been published by the CSO on a bi-annual basis commencing with the May 2004 publication and the most recent figures relate to May 2006.

The publication contains four tables presenting information on average price levels and comparisons for Dublin and Outside Dublin for the goods and services in question. A copy of the publication can be obtained by download from the CSO website or on request from the CSO.

In May 2006, 40 of the 73 goods and services (55%) showed higher average prices in Dublin with the remaining 33 (45%) showing lower average prices in Dublin. Overall, on a weighted basis for the products covered, average prices in May 2006 in Dublin were 3.5% higher than elsewhere. Similar differences of 3.1% and 3.2% were recorded in November 2005 and May 2005 respectively. When the price of drink in licensed premises is excluded from the comparison the remaining difference in overall average prices between Dublin and the rest fell to just 0.3% in May 2006.