Ireland is failing to meet benchmarks for physical activity in children with disabilities.
That's according to a new Active Healthy Kids Report Card - the third of its kind for Ireland and Northern Ireland.
It was produced as part of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, established in 2014.
The cards are generated using a standardised grading system, with grades from A to F.
For the first time this year, the report analysed data on physical activity among children and adolescents with disabilities.
Investigators found Ireland is not meeting benchmarks for physical activity in children with disabilities.
An 'F' grade was awarded to Overall Physical Activity and a 'D' for Organised Sport in this category.
The report also found that children with disabilities required more family and peer support to be physically active compared to the general population.
It found that generally, physical activity levels in children and teenagers across Ireland have improved slightly over the past eight years.
However not all children and teens have an equal chance to be active.
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Across the island of Ireland, it's recommended that children and adolescents - aged six to 17 - get on average 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in a week.
The team of investigators awarded a 'C-' grade for overall physical activity in children and teens across the whole island.
This represents a slight improvement on the 'D' grade awarded in 2016.
Physical activity grades also improved for schools and physical education - while other indicators remained unchanged.
'Investment is clearly needed'
There were also differences by gender - with more boys meeting the guidelines than girls.
Younger children are also more likely to meet the guidelines than adolescents.
And in socioeconomic terms, those from lower SES backgrounds are meeting the guidelines less often.
Director of policy at the Institute of Public Health, Dr Helen McAvoy, said: "This report on children's physical activity is timely as it coincides with the recent publication of a review of the Irish Government's National Physical Activity Plan.
"Progress has been made but strategic investment is clearly needed to accelerate progress and extend the benefits of physical activity to all children including those living in social disadvantage and children with disability."
The report made several recommendations - including the need to further develop policy measures to address inequalities identified, and the need for a framework for the systematic surveillance of indicators related to physical activity for children and teens with disabilities.
The North South Report Card was funded by the Public Health Agency, Department of Health and Healthy Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland, Sport Ireland and the Institute of Public Health.
