MORE than a third of teenage girls and three in ten teenage boys have had sex before the age of 15, according to a Barnsley health survey. The Barnsley Primary Care Trust poll also revealed that about half fail to use contraception. The statistics are being used to develop a plan to halve the number of teenage pregnancies by 2010. Although rates have gone down by about ten per thousand girls over ten years, the latest figures available show there was a rise between 2004 and 2005. In a report put to PCT board members on Monday, the town’s director of public health Dr Paul Redgrave stated: “Whilst the data suggests significant progress has been maintained since the 1998 baseline, Barnsley is currently not on course to meet the Public Service Agreement 2010 target.” Alcohol is said to be a major reason for youngsters having unsafe sex and just under 40 per cent of 14-15 years olds surveyed stated they drank often. The ten areas with the highest teenage pregnancy rates have already been targeted for increased sex education and Dr Redgrave has recommended measures to improve the service across the borough. They include strengthening links with schools and housing organisations, increasing access to sexual health clinics and specific projects to help youngsters from vulnerable minority groups.