Sir, – The RTÉ programme on babies raises the question: Why has our fertility rate declined?
Our health education policy on sex education and contraception explains the decline in teenage pregnancies (15-19), which declined from 2,427 in 2005 to 551 in 2025. The number of births to women aged 20-24 also halved from 7,785 in 2005 to 3,575 in 2025. Births also declined among women aged 25-29 from 13,650 in 2005 to 9,086 in 2025.
So, in 2025, the largest cohort of birth mothers (66 per cent) were in their 30s; 19,284 were aged between 30 and 34 and 16,901 between 35 and 39.
While the fertility rate of women begins to decline from their 30s, the CSO figures reveal that 4,314 women between 40 and 44 gave birth, as did 373 between 45 and 49.
RM Block
Some mothers may have availed of fertility treatment, but it is expensive. Many argue that financial support for treatment should be available.
According to the CSO, the “top three” birth-friendly occupations are “homemakers” and the health, teaching and education professions. The traditional male breadwinner and traditional mother/wife are no longer the norm.
Currently, 40 per cent of births are to mothers “outside marriage”, while 26 per cent are born to cohabiting parents at the time of birth registration. So “solo” mothers are making a big contribution to our current, albeit lower, fertility levels.
Are we addressing their needs? The RTÉ focus on fertility decline in Ireland poses a timely new research agenda on contemporary birth patterns. – Yours, etc,
Dr EVELYN MAHON,
Fellow Emerita,
School of social work and social policy,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.
