Dublin maternity hospital sees births rise

Births at the Coombe in Dublin jumped by 5% in 2007, compared to the previous year, according to the hospital's 2007 annual report.

The figures also show that obese women accounted for almost a fifth of all births while 17% of mothers continued to smoke during their pregnancy.

The release of the figures coincide with a request for the Government to proceed with the relocation of the Coombe to a site in Tallaght despite the recession.