This report presents data from the HBSC Ireland 2006, the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey. The 2006 HBSC survey is the third time that data of this kind has been collected from young people across the Republic of Ireland; previous surveys were conducted in 2002 and 1998 (www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc).

HBSC is a cross-national research study conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. The HBSC international survey runs on an academic 4-year cycle and in 2005/6 there were 41 participating countries and regions. The overall study aims are to gain new insight into, and increase our understanding of young people’s health and well-being, health behaviours and their social context. As well as serving a monitoring and a knowledge-generating function, one of the key objectives of HBSC has been to inform policy and practice.

The issues identified for inclusion in this first report from the 2006 Irish survey are those identified in the National Health Promotion Strategy and the Health Strategy: Quality and Fairness, and mirror the two previous National HBSC reports. These include general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other substances, food and dietary behaviour, exercise and physical activity, self-care, injuries and bullying. Variations by gender, age group and social class are presented in this report. The HBSC also provides further research data on health and lifestyle behaviours across a range of socio-demographic and economic parameters.