This report titled ‘The First Five Years of Life in Ireland – Update 2026’ is the nineteenth report in the Statistical Spotlights series. These Spotlight publications are focused on a specific topic and gather available statistical data to highlight trends or patterns. The aim of this Spotlight #19 is to update the 2022 edition (Spotlight #8) and collates available data that illustrates key trends in relation to the goals and objectives of First 5: A Whole of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028. The Strategy identifies nine main objectives relating to: helping parents to balance working and caring responsibilities; providing information, services and supports for parents; providing practical and material resources to parents; promoting positive health behaviours; providing high quality health services; supporting positive mental health; supporting a positive home learning environment; providing affordable, accessible and high quality Early Learning and Care (ELC); and supporting transitions to primary school. Key information in the report includes

• In Census 2022, there were 359,441 children aged 5 and under living in Ireland, accounting for 7% of the population. It is estimated that there were 352,524 children aged 5 and under living in the State in 2025, a decrease from the 2022 estimate (-2.1%). 
• Just under half of all children aged 0-5 lived in a residence owned with a mortgage/loan, and over one quarter lived in a residence rented from a private landlord. 
• 27% of all families with children had at least one child aged 0-5 in 2022. This compares to the percentage of just under 34% in 2016 Over two thirds of these families were married couples with children.

P.58 Objective 6: Positive mental health
Babies, young children, and their parents enjoy positive mental health. 
Objective 6a: Children with parents that entered treatment for problem drug and/or alcohol use. 

This section presents data that can shed light on the mental health of parents and young children. While there is very little mental health data on children aged 5 and under, there is data some data on mental health and addiction among parents of children in this age group. Table 36 looks at children aged under 5 years whose parents have entered treatment for problem alcohol use in a particular year. In 2019, 19.7% of children with parents who entered treatment for problem alcohol use were aged under 5 years, which has increased to 21.3% in 2024.....

See also, Datasheet: The First Five Years of Life in Ireland