Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children identified with Downs syndrome in each of the past five years; the way the figures here compare per 100,000 of the population with other countries within the EU and the US; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32570/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children diagnosed with autism in each of the past ten years; the way these figures compare per 100,000 population with other jurisdictions throughout Europe and the US; the full extent of research undertaken or proposed in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32571/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together.

The Department of Health and Children does not collect information on children identified with Downs Syndrome or Autism on a national or international basis. Information pertaining to diagnosis is specifically excluded from the National Intellectual Disability Database as the database is not designed as a medical epidemiological tool. Accordingly the database does not record the incidence of Autism, Downs Syndrome or any other disability. With regard to the remaining matters raised by the Deputy, these relate to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.