Conference To Discuss Rising Rate Of Marriage Break-Up

The increasing rate of marriage break-up in Ireland is due to be highlighted at a conference in Dublin today.

The latest census figures show that more marriages are breaking up and more couples are choosing to live together rather than get married.

Marriage breakdown is highest in towns and cities, with almost one-fifth of married couples slitting up in Dublin and Limerick.

A detailed study of the issue has been conducted by Professor Patricia Casey and will be presented to a conference on the fragmenting family in Dublin today.

The conference will also be told that cohabitation is the fastest growing family form in Ireland, with almost 122,000 unmarried couples now living together.

Experts say co-habiting couples are statistically more likely to break up than those who are married.