Irish lunch break dwindles to 33 minutes

The traditional Irish lunch "hour" is disappearing fast with the average lunch break for workers in the Republic of Ireland just 35 minutes long, a survey on lunchtime eating in the workplace has revealed today.

The Eurest Lunchtime Report 2004 reveals that the average lunch break across the whole of Ireland is just 33 minutes.

Workers in the Republic take an average of 35 minutes, a four minute drop from when the report was last published in 2002.

In comparison workers in Northern Ireland take an average of 31 minutes, compared with 36 minutes in 2002.

In the UK, the average lunch break remains at an all-time low of 27 minutes.

Four out of five Irish workers (86% in the Republic of Ireland and 83% in Northern Ireland) take a daily lunch break compared with just over half in Britain (57%), according to the survey, commissioned by business caterer Eurest, part of Compass Group.

Only 4% of workers in the Republic of Ireland confess to skipping lunch. This figure jumps to 20% in the UK.

Workers in the Republic of Ireland generally spend more on their lunch. The average spend in the Republic of Ireland is €4 - 62c more than in 2002.

In Northern Ireland the average lunchtime spend for 2004 is £2.21 (€3.40) – 4p less than the 2002 figure. Women tend to spend less than men on lunch with 64% of women in the Republic spending less than €5 against 47% of men.

Healthy lunches are also important to the Irish workforce, with the report’s findings showing increasingly health-conscious workers swapping hearty midday meals for lighter options such as soup, fruit and salad.

While taste remains the most important factor for workers in the Republic of Ireland when choosing lunch (72%), healthy food (51%) is now in second place (from third in 2002).

Republic of Ireland workers rate convenience and speed as the third most important factor.

Sandwiches – the lunchtime choice for two out of three Irish workers (RoI and NI) – are still the favourite lunchtime bite.

In the Republic of Ireland soup comes next, while fruit is second choice in Northern Ireland. Salad is the third place choice for both.

Tea is the number one drink – 64% in the Republic of Ireland and 44% of Northern Irish workers go for a cuppa. Mineral water is second.

Two out of five workers in the Republic would like staff catering facilities offering healthier eating menus and more than one in four (26% in the Republic) would welcome workplace fitness facilities or fitness club memberships.

This is the 10th edition of the Lunchtime Report which was first published in 1990.