Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a subgroup of the national physical activity plan on children and young people. That focusses on 14 of the 60 actions trying to increase participation by children in sport. There is also representation on that group from Comhairle na nÓg, the National Parents Council and the agencies and national governing bodies as well. That is an important area in trying to implement those action points. I commend the work of everybody involved. To add to what Deputy O'Keeffe said, we do need to have more outlets. We try to provide outlets through the sports capital programme to ensure the best possible infrastructure is available to as many people as possible. Another key area has to be a focus on nutrition and what people, and children in particular, are putting into their bodies. Sometimes high levels of sugars and saturated fats are accepted as part of ordinary diets and they really should not be. That is another area we need to examine. I also compliment the work of Healthy Ireland and what it is doing on that front. That is all part of the bigger picture that we need to focus on.

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