A new report provides a comparison of social and economic statistics for the north and south of Ireland.
The joint report by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) provides a demographic picture of social change in the country as a whole.
Some of the most revealing statistics refer to falling birth rates in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Between 1980 and 1998, the birth rate fell from almost 22 births per 100,000 of the population to 14.5 in the south. In the north, the figures went from 21 to 14. The age at which women give birth also rose across the island.
When it comes to housing, the report found that first-time buyers in Northern Ireland pay almost £20,000 less than their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
The north sees a consistently lower number of fatal accidents on the roads than the south. The pass rate for the driving test is higher for both men and women north of the border.
The report has given rise to joint action by governments north and south of the border. Minister Seamus Brennan said that these joint actions will be structured under the framework of the Good Friday Agreement.
It's for the betterment of everybody on the island.
The Republic of Ireland continues to forge ahead when it comes to tourism, with visitor numbers increasing by 65 per cent in the past five years. Visitor numbers in Northern Ireland improved by a more modest 28 per cent. Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive Mark Durkan points to image problems that are a legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland but believes that this can be addressed in the context of the peace process.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 January 2001. The reporter is Declan McBennett.
