Paul Keenan
Marriage remains an attractive option for people in Ireland despite other striking changes contained in the latest examination of the family in this country.
According to a study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) entitled Family Figures: Family Dynamics and Family Types in Ireland 1986-2006, while cohabitation is a modern reality for many younger couples, marriage remains the preferred choice for the majority of couples, despite a dramatic trend towards co-habitation.
Family Figures records a four-fold growth in cohabitation in the years 1996 to 2006, with twice as many people aged 25 cohabiting as married.
''The trend away from marriage among young adults is partly due to the large rise in cohabitation,'' the report states.
However, the study also reveals that the peak age for cohabitation is 28, with many people after this actively considering marriage as the logical next step. For this reason, the researchers cautioned that it is too early to judge whether the co-habitation trend signals a drop in the marriage rate, and that those currently cohabiting may progress to marriage.
''Mostly, cohabitation appears to be a prelude to marriage, but the increase in co-habiting couples with children suggests that a minority of cohabitees may prefer continued cohabitation,'' the report acknowledged.
Responding to Family Figures, Iona Institute Director David Quinn said there is no room for complacency on the figures or the marriage rate.
''The figures show that while marriage is still popular, nonetheless it is in decline and we should be concerned about this,'' he told The Irish Catholic.
''While the marital breakdown rate is still low by Western standards, rates of cohabitation, out-of-wedlock births and number of children being raised outside the marital family, are almost on a par with Britain and America.''
Mr Quinn said it was clear the State needs to do a lot more to promote marriage. ''Children benefit when they have married parents. That's a message people need to hear,'' he said.
