Number of women travelling to UK for abortions falls

Figures released today show a drop in the number of women with Irish addresses who have been heading to the UK for abortions.

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency has recorded a fall of 543 between 2005 and 2006, the sixth year in a row the figures have dropped.

In 2006, 5,042 Irish women travelled to Britain for abortion, down from 5,585 for the previous year.

The agency has also been working on trying to determine whether Irish women are travelling to other countries for terminations.

Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Dr Ruth Cullen welcomed the news.

"It indicates the tide is moving in the right direction and that a growing trend towards abortion is not inevitable," she said.

"Some argue the reduction in the abortion rate may be because more Irish women opt for abortion in other European countries. However, there is no statistical evidence to substantiate such claims."