Almost 5,000 foreign births in Dublin in 2003
A total of 4,625 babies were born to non-national women in Dublin’s three main maternity hospitals last year, it emerged today.
The majority of non-Irish births were Nigerian, with 1,528 children born to mothers from the African nation. British women gave birth to 671 children while 470 babies were born to Romanian mothers.
Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte had requested the figures from the Eastern Regional Health Authority in March, but has only just received the information on a letter dated June 11, the day of the citizenship referendum.
In Holles Street a total of 8,378 children were born with 1,812 non-national births. In the Rotunda Hospital of the 6,789 babies born in 2003, 1,105 were to non-Irish mothers.
There were a total of 1,708 babies born to non-national mothers in the Coombe Hospital.
Births were recorded for women from more than 100 countries around the world including mothers from almost every country in the European Union.
The ERHA said the question from Mr Rabbitte was a standard request and there was no intention to delay the passing on of information.
Mr Rabbitte said this was information that was pertinent to the citizenship referendum, and could have been made available to the voters.
“All the facts and figures would have been of very great interest to the public.”
The Labour leader also claimed the figures from the hospitals would not have supported Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s argument in favour of the referendum.
