More than 10,000 households to be surveyed on mental and physical health

More than 10,000 Irish households are to be surveyed to find out just how healthy the nation is, mentally and physically, the Department of Health has confirmed.

The Healthy Ireland survey is the first for seven years and will start in the coming weeks.

The department and Healthy Ireland said the households to be surveyed have been randomly selected and they hope the results will be available by May 2015.