New figures on teenage pregnancy, released by the Central Statistics Office in Ireland, have caused major concern around the country this week.

 

According to the latest statistics, there were 12 babies born to girls aged 15 and under in the first three months of this year. Meanwhile, a further 16 girls aged 16 years also gave birth in early 2015.

 

While the details of each particular case have not been revealed, the statistics alone are enough to show that each of the babies – if conceived in this country – were conceived in circumstances of statutory rape.

 

On the other end of the scale, 58 women aged 45 years or older gave birth over the exact same time period. In the cases of 17 of these women, this was their very first child.

 

The latest statistics come just three months after Eurostat figures showed that Ireland has a lower rate of teen pregnancy than the European average, while first-time mothers in Ireland are older than the EU equivalent.

 

The study, carried out in to mark May’s International Day of Families, found that just over 3% of Irish first-time mums are in their forties.

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