There is an “urgent need” to address Ireland’s population issues, according to the Irish Examiner.

In an editorial in Monday’s paper, the leader writer noted the new CSO population figures reveal that we, “are ageing faster than most of our European neighbours, largely as a result of a falling birth rate”.

It adds that, worryingly, during the 12 months to the end of April, the number of people aged under 14 fell to under 1m (992,400) for the first time since 2014. And since 2010, the number of births has dropped by some 27pc.

The editorial said the problem is not one for the future, but for now; and, while an aging populace has been well flagged, “fertility rates have fallen much more quickly than was ever anticipated”.

It suggests the Government might look at the example of Singapore, “where they recently incentivised having children to the tune of €47,000 per newborn”.

Although it also noted that cash alone will not solve the problem; “more family-friendly policies will also have to be adopted”.

It concluded that the CSO figures make clear that the Government has “urgent problems to tackle”, though it also laments that no one in Cabinet seems likely to act.