Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister clarify his plans, about which I asked in the first part of my question, for the introduction of a national strategy for a childhood obesity prevention and integration service? I am particularly keen to know if it is part of what he proposes to introduce.

At the meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children on Thursday, 13 June 2013, we were addressed by experts from Children's University Hospital Temple Street and the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute. They were very clear in their analysis of the current and impending crisis of childhood obesity. They put forward recommendations to help address what the Minister and I agree is a very disturbing and serious issue. Among the recommendations made by the witnesses were sustainable Government funding for the evidence-based programme W82GO, which is run by Temple Street hospital for children who are clinically obese, co-ordinated and sustainable funding of an evidence-based community treatment programme such as Up4it, which was funded and supported by CAWT and had an impact in my constituency, and the appointment of a national post for obesity management. The other critical points made were on consistency and delivery and the engagement of the Government and the HSE with clinical experts, including those I mentioned. As I asked in the substantive question, will the Minister take the opportunity to meet with these expert voices?

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