The figures,
published yesterday, showed that 50pc of all births in the third quarter of 2011
in Waterford City were to unmarried parents, with 24pc of births being to unmarried parents living at the
same address.

Limerick
city came next. In the same quarter, 46pc of births in Limerick City were outside marriage, with 16pc
of all births being to unmarried parents living at the same address.

In
Dublin city, 45 percent of births were outside marriage and 18 percent were to
unmarried parents living together.

The lowest percentage
of births outside marriage was in Co Roscommon at 22pc.

Overall, the third quarter figures show that 19,222 births took place, and 34
percent of the total took place
outside marriage. Eighteen per cent of all births nationally were to unmarried parents living at the
same address.

The birth total in
the third quarter of 2011 is 23pc higher than in 2002 when 15,593 babies were
registered. The 19,222 births represent an annual birth rate of 16.8 per 1,000
of the population.

The average age of
mothers at maternity outside of marriage, was 28.4 years. This ranged from 30.4
years in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown to 26.8 years in Limerick
City.

The number of
marriages registered during the quarter was 7,538, equivalent to an annual
marriage rate of 6.6 per 1,000 population, a decrease of 0.4 compared with the
corresponding quarter of 2010.