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The Journal
3 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
Over 15% of children between 13 and 17 don't eat fruit and vegetables at least once a day
OVER 15 PERCENT of children aged between 13 and 17 don't eat fruit and vegetables at least once a day. However, over 90% of children in Ireland aged between 2 and 17 are considered to be in 'good' or 'very good' health. That's according to the 2024 Irish Health Survey that's been published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Parents or guardians of the children were asked questions via an online questionnaire about their child's health status, access to health care, nutrition, and recreational activities. It found that fruits and vegetables were eaten at least once a day by 89.0% of children aged 2 to 17 years, while 95.9% had a meal with meat, chicken, or fish (or vegetarian equivalent) at least once a day. Children aged between 2 to 8 (91.5%) were more likely to eat fruits and vegetables at least once a day, compared with children aged 13 to 17 years (84.3%). For children between 9 and 12, this figure was 91.3%. Meanwhile, the general health of some 92.4% of children between 2 and 17 was considered to be 'good' or 'very good'. The remaining 7.6% were considered to have 'fair, bad, or very bad' general health. However, there is a marked decline when it comes to children's general dental health. Advertisement The general dental health of some 82.3% of children aged 2 to 17 was considered to be 'good or very good'. Some 14.5% of children had 'fair' general dental health, while 3.2% were considered to have 'bad or very bad' general dental health. Meanwhile, 18.4% of children aged 2 to 17 have a long-standing illness or health problem and this figure is higher for males (19.9%) than for females (16.8%). A child's long-standing illness or health problem refers to issues which have lasted, or are expected to last, for six months or more. Elsewhere, around 5.6% of children were admitted to a hospital as an in-patient in the past 12 months, while 14.7% were admitted as a day-case patient. Regarding medication, more than half (51.1%) had taken prescription medicine, non-prescription medicine, or vitamins in the two weeks prior to the interview. Prescription medicine was taken by 18.7% of children aged 2 to 17 years and non-prescription medicine or vitamins were taken by 41.9% of children. Almost half (48.8%) needed a medical examination or treatment (excluding dental) for a health problem in the past 12 months. Elsewhere, participation in leisure activities – such as swimming, playing an instrument, or youth organisations – was highest for those aged 9 to 12 years (92.3%) and lowest for those aged 2 to 8 years (80.8%). This figure is 83.6% for children aged 13-17. Some 5,101 people took part in the survey and the CSO said it provides 'reliable data about the health of people in Ireland, which can then be used in public health policies'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Paula Hynes: Do you have a beef with the cost of living?
The cost of living, along with food inflation, is making the headlines — one politician even said 'a litre of milk is now more expensive than a litre of petrol'. There is some bit of truth in that statement, but in reality it is a headline grabber — if the same politician shopped own brand in a supermarket, they would get their litre of milk cheaper than petrol, and if the cost of diesel came down, the price of food may do the same, as there is a lot of transport involved in collecting milk from farms, delivering food to distribution centres and then onwards to supermarkets. And let's not forget contractor charges, which have risen dramatically due to the cost of diesel. I might remind the same politician that while petrol may be cheaper than milk, oil companies make far greater profits than dairy farms. In fact, thank God the price of milk is high. Irish dairy farmers spent most of 2023 and 2024 operating at break-even as the price of milk was so low. The price of food will need to remain high in Ireland — there are further taxes being placed on fertiliser next year, there is also a proposed tax of €80 on a tractor tyre, energy prices are far too high in this country, and diesel the same, meaning the cost of producing milk is high and will only go higher going forward. Ask yourself this: why do politicians start to spout dramatic headlines when the voter and consumer have their backs against the wall? Politicians need to get in touch with reality and join the real world fast, because milk was always going to get more expensive — if it didn't, then farmers would simply go out of business. Politicians are still wrangling over regulations which may further impact the price, will the derogation be renewed, and now the mighty EU wants to play with the CAP budget, well if they reduce it, the consumer will pay the price. There are talks the budget will be reduced by 22% between 2028 and 2034. Remember, the CAP was originally set up to keep the cost of food low, and the EU has already been reducing those payments to farmers for years. Milk isn't the only food that has risen in cost, the cost of beef for the consumer has risen 22% year-on-year. It seems high, but the price of cattle has risen 48%, according to CSO figures. Beef kill at factories is reducing week on week, with prices climbing, which will further increase the price for consumers. The writing was on the wall for high beef prices for some time, and yet politicians continued to walk around in La La Land, oblivious to a looming beef shortage. When Pete was in the US in 2023, Angus calves from dairy herds, which were still being fed milk, were costing $450 each. The same calf here was costing between €50 and 100. Why the price difference? There was a massive shortage of beef cattle in the US. Ground beef has risen by 50% in price over the last five years in the US, beef production is forecast to drop by a further 2.1% this year, which equates to 600,000t, and the US beef herd has fallen to its lowest in 70 years — an 800-pound steer in the US cost about $1,500 in 2024 and now costs $2,400, prices which are forecast to continually rise through 2025. It is not just a US issue — in Ireland, changes to derogation rules by the EU meant Irish farmers had to reduce dairy cow numbers to the tune of nearly 200,000 cows. If we assume a 10% non-pregnant rate, then that is 20,000 fewer cows going for slaughter a year, and 180,000 fewer calves born, so the beef kill in Ireland was forecast to drop, and it has. In fact, the beef kill in Ireland is in free fall at the moment, and not only will have an impact on beef prices in the supermarket, it also has a serious economic impact on our economy, and may potentially lead to job losses. On an EU level, beef cow numbers are at their lowest since 1961. EU politicians have simply regulated farmers out of business — those farmers who continued have been crippled by the rising cost of farm inputs, and while many farmers continue, climate change is now driving them out of business. Farmers in Mediterranean countries have now ceased trying to rear young calves due to the challenges of extremely high summer temperatures, and have now switched to sourcing older weanling cattle from Northern Europe, including Ireland, as these older cattle can adapt to high temperatures with fewer health issues. Export demand for cattle to other EU countries from Ireland has never been higher, and looks to increase. The EU political solution, to simply sign the Mercosur deal, and ensure you will all be eating South American beef, which in turn will further push EU farmers out of business. In the end, we will be simply paying a high prices to Brazil for beef because other countries across the world will also be looking to source the same beef due to a global beef shortage, which is forecast to increase as global demand continues to soar over the next decade. The great Texas ranchers would most likely say to politicians, y'all made a mess of it, and they would be right on the money with that statement. The next time you, the consumer, hears a politician or an MEP saying they have got your back, and they are going to raise the cost-of-living issue, ask them what their stance on EU food security is, and whether they are going to fight to ensure the EU's number one priority is food security? The same politician who feels a litre of milk is higher than a litre of petrol might also remind her political party MEPs to actually turn up and vote when it comes to EU agricultural parliament voting, because their record of voting is pretty dismal and bordering on non-existent up until now. They simply didn't seem to care about EU agriculture or food production until it became a huge issue for consumers. On a cheerier note, with no shows since the Great Yorkshire due to a few hospital appointments, we are all set for YMA National Finals in Kilkenny, and with seven heifers travelling, we have two top-class days of showing ahead, so hopefully we might have a little luck. Read More Is it the thin end of the wedge for flat rate Vat compensation scheme?
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Cork and Kerry children the healthiest in the country, new survey finds
Almost 20% of children have a 'long-standing illness' or health problem, with boys more likely to have them than girls, a new survey has shown. On the other hand, the general health of more than 90% of children across the country was deemed to be 'good or very good', with children in Cork and Kerry reported as the healthiest, according to the Central Statistics Office. Following on from its health survey of Irish adults last week, which showed younger generations drinking less alcohol than their parents and grandparents, Friday saw the CSO release its data on the state of children's health in Ireland last year. In terms of a long-standing illness or health problem, the CSO said this referred to issues that have lasted or are expected to last for six months or more. 'Health problems cover different physical, emotional, behavioural, and mental dimensions of health,' it said. 'Besides diseases and disorders, they can also include pain, ill-health caused by accidents and injuries, and congenital conditions.' It found 19.9% of boys aged two to 17 were reported to have a long-standing health problem compared to 16.6% of girls. It does not provide a breakdown of how many were affected by a mental health issue compared to a physical issue, for example. Over the last year, it said more than one in 20 (5.6%) of children had been admitted to hospital as an inpatient, while one in seven had attended hospital as a day-case patient. Some 92.3% of nine to 12 year olds engage in leisure activities. As well as overall health, the survey also looked at how children are taking care of their teeth, as well as the medicines they are taking. 'The general dental health of four in five (82.3%) children aged two to 17 years was considered to be 'good or very good', while 3.2% were considered to have 'bad or very bad' general dental health,' CSO statistician Sarah Crilly said. 'Regarding medication, more than half of children aged two to 17 years (51.1%) had taken prescription medicine, non-prescription medicine, or vitamins in the two weeks prior to interview. Prescription medicine was taken by 18.7% of children aged two to 17 years and non-prescription medicine or vitamins were taken by 41.9% of children. 'Almost half of children aged two to 17 years (48.8%) needed a medical examination or treatment (excluding dental) for a health problem in the past 12 months.' Turning to a child's nutrition, the survey also asked if they had been eating fruits and vegetables at least once a day, or if they had eaten meat, chicken, fish or a vegetarian equivalent. While more than 90% had been eating at least one of the meat options once a day, the rate at which they were eating fruits and vegetables declined noticeably with age. While 91.5% of children aged two to eight ate fruits and vegetables at least once a day, this fell to 84.3% of 13-17 year olds, showing teenagers were less likely to be getting some fruit and veg into their daily diets. High numbers were also recorded for children engaging in leisure activities, such as swimming, playing an instrument, or being in a youth organisation, at 84.6% of two-17 year olds. The peak years for children engaging in such activities was nine-12 years old at 92.3%, falling to 83.6% when they became teenagers. Read More Younger people drinking less but smoking more cannabis than older generations
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Irish children's general health is better than their tooth care, CSO figures show
While the general health of more than nine in 10 – 92.4pc – of children aged between two to 17 years was considered to be good or very good, the same description could only apply to 82.3pc when it came to their teeth. Some 3.2pc were considered to have 'bad or very bad' general dental health, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The figures show that 93.4pc of children aged two to eight years of age were considered to have good or very good general health, compared with 94.6pc of children aged nine to 12 years and 89.6pcpc of children aged 13 to 17 years. The percentage of children aged two to 17 years who were considered to be in good or very good health was highest in HSE south west at 95.2pc and lowest in HSE Dublin and Midlands at 90.8pc. Almost one in five – 18.4pc – of children aged two to 17 years have a long-standing illness or health problem and it is higher for males – 19.9pc – than females at 16.8pc. Over one in 20 children aged two to 17 years were admitted to a hospital as an in-patient and 14.7pc were a day-case patient in the past 12 months. Almost half of children aged two to 17 years needed a medical examination or treatment – excluding dental – for a health problem in the past 12 months. Fruits and vegetables were eaten at least once a day by 89.0pc of children aged two to 17 years – although consumption fell off slightly among older children. Some 95.9pc had a meal with meat, chicken, or fish – or vegetarian equivalent – at least once a day. Participation in leisure activities such as swimming, playing an instrument, or youth organisations was highest for those aged nine to 12 years at 92.3pc and lowest for those aged two to eight years at 80.8pc. ADVERTISEMENT Sarah Crilly, Statistician in the Health and Social Cohesion Division, said: 'The statistics contained in this release are selected from a module on children's health that was included in the Irish Health Survey, which was conducted in 2024. "The guardians of children aged between two to 17 years were asked questions, via an online questionnaire, about their child's health status, access to health care, and their health determinants such as nutrition and recreational activities. 'The release includes a selection of statistics from the children's module survey with additional data available on the CSO's open data portal, PxStat. The complete list of statistics are included in the Data chapter of this release, with further statistics disaggregated by age, sex and HSE health region. This is the first CSO survey publication to include statistics by HSE health region.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Irish exports to US up 153pc in the first five months of the year
Some €70.8bn of produce was shipped across the Atlantic, compared to €28bn in the same five-month period last year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The pattern continued in the month of May, even after Mr Trump put a 90-day pause on the introduction of a 20pc 'reciprocal' tariff on the EU. Exports to the US increased to €10.6bn, up 86.5pc year-on-year, in that month alone. The increased pace of transatlantic trade pushed the total value of Irish exports to €134.4bn in the first five months of the year, an increase of €42.9bn on the same period in 2024. Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products represent the biggest share, with €13.7bn exported in May, up 74pc on the same month last year. It is likely that several of the big US pharma companies operating in Ireland, such as Pfizer and Eli Lilly, frontloaded delivery of stock in that period. By contrast, the value of exports to Britain fell by 12pc in the first five months of the year, dropping from €7.2bn to €6.3bn. The products that account for the largest share of exports to Britain are food and live animals, and machinery and transport equipment. Ireland's biggest export markets in May were the US, followed by the Netherlands and Britain. Over 10pc of our exports went to the Netherlands, where some products would have re-exported through Rotterdam, Europe's largest seaport. Imports also rose in the first five months of the year, according to the CSO data. The value of goods imported rose by €4.2bn, or 7.8pc year-on-year, in that period. Robert Purdue, head of dealing at the global financial service firm Ebury, said 2025 was likely to be a year of two halves for exports, with an 'artificial spike' in H1 followed by a slump, as exporters re-stock. 'New threats of significant tariffs on pharmaceutical products will be hugely concerning for the economy given the critical role this sector plays in Ireland,' he said. Janette Maxwell, a tax partner at Grant Thornton, said the trend of high exports is unlikely to continue in the long term. 'President Donald Trump's recent threat of 30pc tariffs on goods will significantly change the functioning of trade between the US and the EU, in addition to having a detrimental impact on the Irish economy,' she said. 'Traders are enduring ongoing instability and unpredictability, and this alone will risk damage to transatlantic trade relations, notwithstanding any introduction of potential tariffs. Therefore it is possible that Irish traders will seek alternative export markets as US consumers may simply not pay the inflated prices that would be inevitable should the 30% tariff rate be introduced on Irish goods.'
