Ms Mary O'Dowd:

Obesity levels in the age group of one to three years are alarming. The Senator asked if there are programmes to address the problem and I can confirm that there are national groups and strategies to address the problem. The public health nurse is the most ideally placed to address the problem. Some areas screen for obesity but there is no national screening programme in schools. There has been a debate about rolling out such a scheme and the most appropriate time to do so. The public health nurse can contribute to the scheme and she is ideally placed to enhance it. Is that okay, Senator?