Two baseline surveys of health related behaviours among adults and school-going young people were carried out across the Republic of Ireland in 1998 and again in 2002. The main aims of these surveys are to produce reliable data of a representative cross-section of the Irish population in order to inform the Department of Health and Children's policy and programme planning and to maintain a survey protocol which will enable lifestyle factors to be re-measured so that trends can be identified and changes monitored to assist national and regional setting of priorities in health promotion activities. This report focuses on these two cross-sectional studies, SLÁN (Survey of Lifestyles, Attitudes and Nutrition), adults aged 18+ years and HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children), school-going children aged 10-17 years.

In keeping with the health and lifestyle surveillance system of many European countries a number of related factors were measured in both surveys. These include general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other substances, food and nutrition, exercise and accidents. These are interpreted in this report according to the Health Promotion Strategy document recommendations. Socio-demographic variations are reported.