The majority of daily and Sunday newspapers, including The Irish Times, have made strong gains in the latest readership statistics covering the period July 2005 to June 2006.

The statistics, which measure the average number of readers per edition of the paper rather than sales, show The Irish Times readership rising to 341,000, up from 335,000 in the equivalent period in 2004/2005. This was a rise of 6,000 readers.

The Irish Independent experienced a fall in its readership from 580,000 to 566,000, a drop of 14,000 readers. The Evening Herald, the only evening paper measured in the survey, had 296,000 readers, down from 314,000 in the previous period, a drop of 18,000.

The Irish Examiner posted a readership of 259,000, compared to 243,000 in the previous period, a rise of 16,000.

Among the tabloids the Irish Daily Star achieved the highest readership with a figure of 411,000, although this slipped from 426,000 in the previous period. The Irish Daily Mirror had a readership of 205,000, down from 213,000 in the previous period, while the Irish Sun achieved a readership of 273,000, compared to 272,000 previously.

The figures were made available yesterday by the Joint National Readership Survey (JNRS). For the first time the JNRS also measured newspaper magazines. The Irish Times Saturday magazine had a total readership of 389,000. The Irish Independent magazine was also included in the survey and it achieved a total readership of 728,000.

In the Sunday market the Sunday Independent managed a readership of 1,133,000, up from its previous figure of 1,056,000. It remains the most widely read Irish newspaper.

The Sunday World posted a readership of 768,000, down from 810,000, a loss of 42,000 readers. The Sunday Tribune had a readership of 281,000, up from 236,000, a gain of 45,000.

The Sunday Business Post, following a recent gain in circulation figures, posted a readership of 203,000, up from 178,000, a rise of 25,000. Ireland on Sunday, which has been steadily losing sales, registered a readership of 393,000, down from 469,000 in the previous period, a fall of 76,000.

The Irish Daily Star (Sunday edition) managed a readership of 253,000, up from 178,000. The Sunday Times had a readership of 426,000, up from 365,000.

The Irish News of the World managed a readership of 597,000, up from 520,000, a gain of 77,000. The Irish Sunday Mirror had a readership of 208,000, up on the previous period when it had 196,000 readers. The Irish People had a readership total of 124,000, up 1,000 on the previous period.

The National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) said the survey showed that newspapers attracted 65,000 new readers in the past year, and that 57 per cent of Irish adults regularly read daily newspapers, while 75 per cent regularly read Sunday newspapers.

The figures highlighted the traditional strength and enduring popularity of newspapers in our society, said the NNI.