50 babies born last year to girls under 16

THERE were 50 babies born to girls under 16 last year, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

The Vital Statistics 2009 report also revealed that two girls in the country had given birth to their second child by the time they were 16 and 201 were mothers before their 17th birthday.

Of those who had a baby by the time they were 16, four were married and 18 were cohabiting with their partner.