Buyers at some of the country's leading stockists of communionwear confirmed that they're now offering dresses and boys' suits in sizes that are normally worn by 12- and 13-year-old children. Most Irish children making their communion are eight years old.

According to Dan Milligan, children's clothing buyer for Arnotts, the shop has been carrying a size 34 . . . the equivalent of age 12 or 13 . . . in First Communion dresses for the past three or four years.

"Arnotts is expected to carry a broader ranger of sizes; we have people coming into us specifically for that reason. Now, when we're buying childrenswear for ages eight to 16, we have to think of what children can actually get into."

To this end, some communion dresses now come with elasticated waists. A number of boys' communion lines are also available in "plus fits" . . .

regular fits but with discreet extra elastic in the back of the waistband. Some shops also stock boys' communionwear and school uniforms in sizes called "husky" and "sturdy", euphemisms for children who can't fit into regular sizes.

Roches Stores also now carries size 34 in Communion dresses . . . "for the past couple of years, we have asked for a couple of 34s from the suppliers" . . . and staff in the children's department have noticed a trend in some heavier boys buying Confirmation outfits for their First Communion.

At The Sisters, a specialist Communionwear shop in Tallaght, Co Dublin, staff have also noticed that their customer base is growing.

"We would certainly sell a wider range of sizes now than we did in the past, " says Dave Healy. "We'd go from size 24 right up to the 40s. There's no doubt some kids are heavier now . . . some of the boys now are in a 32 waist, which is a grown man's size. There again, you'd have some girls coming in who fit into age six to seven; they come in all shapes and sizes."

Recent surveys indicate that one in five Irish children is overweight and one in 20 is obese. Excess body weight is now recognised as the most common childhood disease in Europe and some continental children's clothing manufacturers have now taken account of the trend towards larger size. While Italian and French lines remain resolutely petite, most German and Danish designs now come in roomier sizes with expandable waists and larger hips.

According to Dan Milligan at Arnotts, which carries a lot of German and Danish stock, these have proved very popular for First Communion and other occasions, especially with girls.

"It is very noticeable that the girls are getting bigger. I suppose from an exercise point of view, there's more out there for boys. Girls tend to be indoors more and they suffer during the winter.

Whether they're doing writing or art or TV, they're continuously going to where the goodies are. When they come in here, you see the results."

Because of the numbers of overweight children passing through Arnotts First Communion changing rooms, staff in the department have had to be trained in a certain sensitivity.

"You have to be very careful about it, " says Milligan.

"Parents look at these girls and all they see are their little princesses. We see them quite differently. You have to be very careful what comments you make."