Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have a programme called Sláintecare healthy communities, which focuses on disadvantaged areas because we know that, as in other countries, people who experience social disadvantage or lower levels of educational attainment tend to have poorer quality diets. A number of interventions have been designed to help target and help people in those areas. There is a nutrition education cooking intervention programme, which involves healthy food made easy. This was introduced in response to a body of research that highlighted a link between food preparation, food skills and food choices. We had two programmes operating in various areas of the country, primarily Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Offaly, Meath, Westmeath and Louth where there was a dedicated HSE resource. Further funding was provided through the healthy Ireland framework, which brought the budget to €450,000 in 2019. The primary aim of the programmes is to address health inequalities.

I hear what the Senator is saying. The affordability of healthy choices is important. It comes back to the location of many of these fast-food outlets. Where would people living in certain buy more fruit and vegetables? Where are the shops located? These are all issues we need to look at. Last year, additional funding was secured to recruit 19 community food and nutrition workers with a remit to build capacity, knowledge and skills across communities, along with local authorities and local statutory and voluntary partners. These will improve the food environment and address food poverty in local areas. The Senator is correct that this is a concern and an area we need to continue to invest in.