There has been a significant drop in the number of Irish children smoking but only a slight fall in children drinking alcohol.
The latest trends report into child health behaviours shows the number reporting they smoked almost halved from 21.2% in 1998 to 11.9% in 2010. Between 2002 and 2010 there was also a significant decrease in the percentage of young people who reported that they had their first cigarette at age 13 or younger (60.6% in 2002 and 48.9% in 2010).
But the numbers who stated they had ever been drunk only fell from 29.3% to 28.3%. The rate of cannabis usage also fell, with the percentage of young people who reported using cannabis in the last 12 months reduce from 10.3% in 1998 to 8.3% in 2010.
Numbers of people bullying each other are also on a downward slope. The report found that the number who reported they have bullied others - two more times - in the past couple of months was at 16.4%, which is a drop from 24.0% in 1998.
Smoking among young people has dropped by almost 10%
Interestingly, between 2002 and 2010 there was an increase in the number of young people who are currently on a diet. This rose to 13.2% in 2010, up just marginally from 2002.
However the report says that particular attention should be given to girls and those from lower social classes who are "consistently more likely to report engagement" in risky health behaviours, specifically substance use.
It says there is an overall positive trend in young people reporting daily or more fruit consumption, tooth brushing twice daily and always wearing a seatbelt.
But it adds that fewer boys aged 15-17 consistently report seatbelt use and tooth brushing and fewer of those lower social class groups eat fruit daily or more.
While the percentage of young people who report exercising four or more times a week has decreased between 1998 and 2010.
