Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the officials for their submissions. On regulations to be put in place by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs which stipulate a service must ensure children attending an ECCE scheme will have a nutritious diet, what food types are provided for? The Department also states mechanisms are in place to monitor implementation of this measure. With the officials outline to us what are the mechanisms involved? Are there penalties for those service providers who do not follow the guidelines?

For the benefit of those viewing these proceedings, will the officials go into detail on the Preparing for Life programme?

My next question is for the Department of Education and Skills. As a parent who has two children in primary school, I acknowledge the work being done at that level. Every parent watching these proceedings knows about Super Troopers, Food Dudes and the walk to work scheme. Fantastic work is ongoing at primary school level, but it is when children move from primary level, where all of this hard work is done, o secondary school, that we see difficulties arise. We have educated young minds to think about eating healthily and participating, but when they move to secondary school, there is a contradiction. We are educating children, but the environment does not send a good message. I know that it is not the Department that looks after them, but there are vending machines in schools. What is the opinion of the officials on their use? We educate children about lunch boxes, but when they go to school, they see vending machines.

We have received many submissions on water fountains. Has there been an audit of water fountains in schools? Has there been an audit of PE halls? How many schools do not have adequate PE halls and canteen facilities?

There has been much talk about making home economics a compulsory subject. What are the views of the officials in that regard? If it were to be made a compulsory subject, how much would it cost the Department to kit out all schools?

What are the opinions of the officials on no fry zones? There has been a lot of talk about them. What is the opinion of the Department on fast food outlets being located near schools?

I have a few brief questions about health issues. Yesterday The Irish Timesreported that the Departments of Health and Finance were delaying the code of practice governing the marketing of junk food to children. What is the status of this voluntary regulation? We are all aware that the sugar tax has worked. The industry had begun to reduce sugar content before it was implemented. Are there other initiatives that could be taken in respect of fat and salt content? Has the Department of Finance been spoken to about ring-fencing some of the money coming in from the sugar tax to tackle the problem of obesity?