Mr. Greg Straton:

The Sláintecare healthy communities programme aims to reduce health inequalities by addressing the social determinants of health in the most deprived communities in the State. Some 22.5% of our population is exposed to some form of disadvantage. In these communities, the prevalence of chronic illness such as stroke, coronary heart disease and diabetes is higher than the population average and significantly higher than in affluent communities. As an example, in self-reported health rates for men in the 65 to 74 age cohort, 57% report good health in deprived areas, as opposed to 91% in affluent areas. The Sláintecare healthy communities programme will be designed to bring together key policies, strategies and fields aligned to the social determinants of health. It will involve 12 Government Departments working in close partnership with local authorities. The first phase of the programme will be delivered in 18 areas, aligned with the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, areas and will cover all 51 SICAP areas by phase 3.

In these areas the HSE will deliver evidence-based programmes that will provide targeted supports in the identified communities, such as parenting programmes, stop-smoking advisers, the We Can Quit programme, social prescribing link workers, nutrition supports and Making Every Contact Count training programme. I will hand back to my colleague, Ms Treleaven.