Survey finds Roscommon has highest life expectancy

Roscommon has the highest life expectancy for men and women in the Republic, according to a new study undertaken by the Institue of Public Health in Ireland (IPH).

Life expectancy at birth in the county is 75.6 years for men and 82.4 years for women. This compares to a national average of 75.6 years for males and 80.6 years for females.

Leitrim has the lowest life expectancy for males at 72.8 years while Limerick has the lowest life expectancy for females at 79.3 years.

The new study marks the first time that male and female life expectancy has been made available at county level in the Republic of Ireland, according to the IPH.

The report consists of two datasets which includes 60 health-related indicators that are available for every county in the Republic of Ireland and every local government district in Northern Ireland.

The IPH said that regional comparisons could help guide national and local efforts to improve health and reduce inequalities by identifying local needs, and assisting with planning and delivering of health and social services.

According to the figures, the all-Ireland life expectancy is 75.6 years for males and 80.6 years for females.

Ballymoney in Co Antrim has the highest life expectancy across the island of Ireland with rates of 78.1 for men and 82.4 years for women.

Belfast has the lowest life expectancy for males in the north at 73.5 years while Derry has the lowest life expectancy for females at 79.3 years

The standardised premature death rate in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland was 324.9 and 347.6 per 100,000 persons respectively.

The highest premature death rate in the Republic is in Louth, while in the North the highest premature death rate is in Belfast.

The figures indicate that during the years 2001-2004, the suicide rate was 47 per cent higher in the Republic than in Northern Ireland. The IPH said that the contrasting rates may be partly due to different methods used in collecting information in the two jurisdictions.

Offaly, Cork and Leitrim had the highest suicide rates on the island of Ireland.