Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Healthy Ireland 2013-25 aims to achieve an island where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential and where well-being is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyone’s responsibility. The three dominant themes of Healthy Ireland are equality, well-being and empowerment. Without equality, we cannot have well-being and without empowerment we will not achieve equality.

Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures includes improving childhood health and well-being among its key priorities. The first outcome, entitled "Active and Healthy", aims for all children and young people to be physically healthy and able to make positive health choices, have good mental health and a positive and respectful approach to relationships and sexual health. My Department oversees the implementation of the framework.

One of the main objectives of the national youth strategy is that young people enjoy a healthy lifestyle, in particular with regard to their physical, mental and sexual health and well-being.

My Department also provides funding to the national youth health programme, operated by the National Youth Council of Ireland, NYHP, in conjunction with and co-funded by my Department and the Health Service Executive.

At the launch of its recent statement of strategy, the National Youth Council of Ireland described how it aims to help Ireland become a country where all young people can experience positive health and well-being. The NYHP will make a defining contribution to the development of effective youth health promotion practices which support young people to make healthy and positive choices.

There are three major areas in which the plan will drive change, including the following: a nationwide provision of evidence based training and resources for those working with young people on topics responding to their needs, including mental health and physical activity; developing and promoting a culture within organisations in the youth sector which focuses on health and well-being; and advocating on issues that affect the health and well-being of young people.

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