Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I thank the Minister for her reply but I ask her to take account of what needs to be done as well as what is being done. The National Heart Alliance has called on the Department of Education and Science to take a lead role in tackling childhood obesity. The alliance should be pushing an open door in approaching the Minister with suggestions in this area, given that one in five children are obese in Ireland, while the EU average is one in six. In this context, we are closer to Boston than Berlin.

I ask the Minister to take account of the decrease in physical exercise which is reported among children from seven to 18 years. Only 49% of such children are exercising four or more times a week, down from 54%. These figures represent an average and girls are generally much worse than boys in this regard. In that context, I ask the Minister to make the case more strongly, during the Estimates process, that the physical education equipment grant scheme be reinstated and given additional resources to try to reverse the trend of fewer children taking physical exercise.

I appreciate that schools are private institutions but the Department has a major influence in the running of schools. The Minister must take account of the need for a healthy food policy in all schools and for a code of practice, at both primary and secondary level, on vending machines. I understand there is a voluntary code on vending machines at primary level, but the secondary level sector also needs guidance and influence from the Department on this matter.

I ask the Minister to be open to meeting the National Heart Alliance to discuss further practical measures, from a health and medical point of view, that may need to be taken.

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