Quarter of babies delivered by Caesarean

The percentage of babies delivered by Caesarean section increased from 20% to 24% between 1999 and 2003, according to figures published today by the ESRI.

The think-tank also says Ireland's birth rate increased from 14.4 to 15.5 per 1,000 population over the same period.

Just under 62,000 births were recorded in 2003, up 2% on the previous year, with single mothers accounting for 30% of all births, the same rate as in each year since 1999.