The maternal death rate in pregnancy and childbirth in Ireland is less than a third of the rate in England and Wales, according to the latest report on vital statistics from the Central Statistics Office.

According to the report, which contains full statistics on births, deaths and stillbirths for the year 2005, the maternal death rate in ireland, excluding Northern Ireland in 2005 was two per 100,000 births compared to seven per 100,000 in England and Wales .

The CSO report shows that in the same year, the maternal death rate in Northern Ireland was five per 100,000 and was seven per 100,000 in Scotland.

The report shows that the infant mortality (under one year) rate in the 26 counties in 2005 was four per 1,000 live births, compared to five in England, Wales and Scotland and six in Northern Ireland.

Comparative figures for the infant mortality rate in Ireland since the early 1940s show that until the 1970s, Ireland's infant morality rate was considerably ahead of that of  Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.

However, from the 1970s, the Republic's infant death rate began to draw level with that of its neighbouring countries and is now below the rate for Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.

The CSO figures show that in 2005, the highest rate of infant mortality was in Limerick city and the lowest was in Waterford City.

The 2005 figures show that of all deaths at ages under one week, 45% were due to congenital anomalies and the most common cause of death for infants aged four weeks to one year was sudden death, followed by congenital anomalies.

The vital statistics also show that in 2005, the number of deaths in the Republic in all categories was the lowest recorded in the history of the State, with a significant fall in the death rate among older people.

Diseases of the circulatory system, including heart disease and stroke, in addition to cancer and respiratory conditions accounted for the bulk of deaths in 2005.

For the full set ot statistics see...http://www.cso.ie