Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to update the House on the vital public health policy areas falling within my remit. While physical and mental well-being have always been important, the Covid-19 pandemic has put public health and well-being centre stage in both Government policymaking and in citizens’ lives.

Empowering people and communities to keep well and shifting focus further towards prevention are key elements of Sláintecare, delivered through Healthy Ireland, our national action plan to help people live healthier and longer lives. Healthy Ireland is being implemented through a suite of action plans and policies, which aim to reduce obesity, increase activity levels, improve health and awareness and help more people to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, illegal drug use and to quit smoking. Since 2018, a core component of Healthy Ireland has been our national communications and citizen engagement campaign, which raises public awareness of supports under three key themes, namely, healthy eating, physical activity and mental well-being. This campaign has been repurposed since the arrival of the pandemic.

In the spring, we supported health and well-being through the In This Together campaign. Last November, recognising that this winter may be one of the most challenging faced in living memory, the campaign was adapted to focus on building resilience, with the theme of keeping well. More details and specific supports are available on gov.ie/healthyireland. Some €7 million in funding has been provided to support a range of initiatives and services under the five main themes. These are: keeping active; staying connected; switching off and being creative; eating well; and minding your mood.

Covid-19 poses a major threat for people with drug and alcohol addiction. In response, drug and alcohol services have adapted new ways of working to continue to support people affected by substance misuse during the pandemic. HSE addiction services have put in place procedures to ensure the delivery of opioid substitution treatment for almost 11,000 service users, including addressing the risk of overdose during Covid-19 by providing increased availability of naloxone.

I could go on and I have a lot more to say but I just want to send my condolences to the families and friends of all those who have passed away and to thank all those who are working to try to reduce this awful problem during this pandemic.

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