Smoking 'on the decrease'

The latest statistical comparison between north and south shows that about the same number of babies (30%) are born outside marriage and smoking is on the decrease on both sides of the border.

The comparison, drawn up by the Central Statistics Office and the North’s statistics agency on the nearly 4 million people living in the south and just over 1.5 millio in the North, also shows the population in the Republic is younger and growing faster.

The fact that 43% in the south are single compared to 35% in the North reflects the younger age profile.

Almost half the Republic's population own their own homes, compared with less than one third in the North.

There are 16 pupils in the average classroom here compared to 14 across the border, and our unemployment rates have both fallen from 8% to 5%.

The rate of road deaths is higher here than in the North.