165 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers of babies born to mothers and parents of non-European Union nationals and the country of origin of the parents for the past two years in each health board area. [32383/01]

My Department has been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the number of births in the eastern region has increased from 20,646 births in 1996 to 22,813 in 2000, with a further increase expected in 2001. The total number of live births for each of the three public maternity hospitals in Dublin for the period January to September 2001 is set out in the following table.