James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I accept what the Ceann Comhairle says. I heard his comments earlier regarding the expectation that the Taoiseach should know every detail of the various parts of the programme for Government.

Where the national strategy for tackling obesity is concerned, not one of the 128 recommendations made has been implemented. The personal health check expert groups which were supposed to be established in 2007, with a requirement to report by mid-2008, have not even met yet.

There is a promise in the programme for Government to the effect that "We will double the income limit eligibility for parents of children under 6 years of age and treble them for parents of children with an intellectual disability under 18 years of age". There is a commitment in Towards 2016 that there will be 300 teams up and running under the primary health care strategy which commenced in 2001. These teams were to be in place by mid-2008. There may be 87 such teams in place but the majority are virtual in nature and not delivering additional services. Where stands the commitment to roll out 300 teams under the primary health care strategy? Is it intended that they will be put in place and is the funding available to allow this to happen?

See this speech in context