There has been a drop in the number of children smoking, but retailers are still flouting the law by selling cigarettes to minors, according to a new report.

“HEAT or eat” has become a widespread phenomenon for older people.

New research on fuel poverty has shown 51% of older people have had to go without food or clothing to pay for home heating.

Fears were voiced today an island-wide increase in fuel poverty could lead to a rise in winter deaths.

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) today called for the formation of an inter-departmental group on fuel poverty to enable the development of a fuel-poverty strategy in Ireland.

The cross-border Institute of Public Health is calling on the Irish Government to take immediate action to tackle the issue of fuel poverty.