Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the National Task Force on Obesity since it was established; the input her Department has made to the ongoing work on the task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40701/06]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture and Food made a comprehensive submission to the National Task Force on Obesity setting out in detail its mission, role and responsibilities, which are "to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society". The Department participated in a consultation day that was organised by the task force and responded to specific requests from the task force. In the event, the task force's report directed two of its 93 recommendations to the Department. The first such recommendation was that the Department of Agriculture and Food together with the Department of Health and Children should promote the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating intervention. The second recommendation was that the Department of Agriculture and Food should review policies in partnership with other Departments to promote access to healthy food and that such policies should encompass positive discrimination in the provision of grants and funding to local industry in favour of healthy products.

The Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland funded a scientific study on children's diet, which was the first study to benchmark the dietary intakes of a nationally representative sample of Irish children. The work was carried out by researchers from Trinity College and University College Cork in 2003 and 2004. They surveyed 600 children between the ages of five and 12 from primary schools throughout Ireland. The researchers collected information on each child relating to their diets, levels of physical activity and body measurements, as well as to the lifestyles of the children and their parents. The study is the first comprehensive scientific evaluation of the dietary intake of children in Ireland. It provides direction for the dietary strategies that need to be established to prevent obesity. The scientific study identified that the levels of consumption of milk, fresh meat and fruit and vegetables among the young are inadequate. The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, launched a new school milk scheme last August in response to the study and the recommendation of the obesity task force. The revamped scheme offers a broader range of milk products, including flavoured milk, low-fat and fortified options. The packaging of the products has also been improved. The new scheme will encourage increased milk consumption among schoolchildren.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is working with the European Commission and Wholesale Produce Ireland to fund a pilot health food initiative, known as the "food dude" programme, to encourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables by children in primary schools. The programme, which is managed by Bord Bia, is in its second year of operation. When it has been completed, it will have been introduced to 120 primary schools. The programme, which was developed by the University of Wales, Bangor, is based on positive role models, repeated tasting and rewards. Studies show it can deliver long-lasting results across the primary age range, regardless of gender, school size, geographic and socio-economic factors. The programme, which lasts three years, is designed to help children to enjoy a healthy diet and to create a healthy eating culture within schools. The results of the first year of the programme have been very encouraging. The activity has been very well received by pupils, parent and teachers.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Irish "food dude" project, which is highly regarded, won the World Health Organisation's counteracting obesity award for 2006 at last week's WHO Istanbul European ministerial conference on counteracting obesity. The initiative was praised by Commissioner Kyprianou as "an innovative approach to promoting a healthy and balanced diet among children". The three-year programme was singled out for its success in promoting "fruit and vegetable consumption in a way that changes children's behaviour for the better on a permanent basis while ensuring the availability of the promoted product". I have been impressed with the positive response to the programme and decided that it would be beneficial to run it on a larger scale. I have secured some €4 million in the Estimates for the programme to be run with national funding in more primary schools next year. Subject to ongoing evaluation, I intend to extend the programme to more schools in later years.

My Department's mission is "to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society". The agri-vision plan of action reinforces this mission and sets out key deliverables focusing on three axes for success in the food industry — competitiveness, innovation and consumer-focused marketing. In the current era of decoupling production from support, the agri-food sector must look to the market potential of products and consumer demands, including the emerging health agenda. Tackling obesity is a multidimensional issue that involves the whole spectrum of policy makers and health providers, together with public opinion on addressing the need for lifestyle balance.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I thought for a moment that he was going to mention all 93 proposals for dealing with obesity. I would like to mention same relevant facts relating to obesity. Some 18% of adults are obese and 39% of adults are overweight. In health terms, the problems of overweight and obesity contribute to many illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and psychological disorders. I welcome what the Minister of State has said. One should not write off the economic costs against the health costs, which are much more significant. The economic cost of the problems I have mentioned is approximately €400 million per annum. I would like the Minister of State to tell the House what has happened to the proposal to provide for positive discrimination in favour of healthy products when grants and funding are being provided to local industry. While I welcome the "food dude" initiative and the proposal to supply additional milk to school children, etc., much more can be done in such respects. What has happened to the proposal to provide for positive discrimination? How many companies are involved in the proposal? What is the outcome of the proposal in terms of production levels?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish "food dude" programme won an international award last week. It got great recognition from the World Health Organisation.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Congratulations.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner has said the programme can be a model for the rest of Europe, particularly during the process of organising the fruit and vegetable sector over the coming months. That process is due to conclude in January. We hope the operation of the programme can be expanded.

We have prioritised horticulture in recent years when giving grants to fruit and vegetable developments. There has been substantial investment in on-farm and processing facilities. Deputy Upton is aware that considerable resources are being devoted to the food institutional research programme. Research and innovation are taking place in the public sector and in private companies. Work is being done not only in our universities and institutes of technology, but in Teagasc as the lead authority. The mission statement of the Agri-Vision 2015 report places a particular emphasis on the future competitiveness of our food industry, which needs to be consumer-focused. Our food industry will develop by concentrating on the provision of nutritious, safe and high-quality food for our citizens. Considerable resources have been disbursed and are being expended. Further resources have been committed for the next few years in the Estimates of the Department of Agriculture and Food. The food sector will be a major beneficiary of the Government's strategy for innovation in science. There is support for innovation and research in all areas. We have emphasised the need for innovation in the development of alternative forms of healthy and nutritious food. We intend to continue to accelerate that programme. The emphasis we have placed on fruit and vegetables in recent years will pay dividends.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I welcome the initiatives that have led to an increase in horticultural output. This country needs to do much more to develop horticulture as an aspect of the food industry. Much more could be done to replace our imported products by way of new initiatives, especially on fruit and vegetables. I accept that we cannot grow bananas here, but there are many other fruits and vegetables that could be promoted and developed.

It is important to note that there is still a problem in this country with food poverty. While there are social and financial aspects to it, there is also an issue about the availability of quality, nutritious foods to those people most at risk. The Department of Agriculture and Food should be looking at new initiatives, such as farmers' markets, to make nutritious foods more available to disadvantaged communities.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Upton has raised these issues previously. In the next national development plan, there will be a greater focus on fruit and vegetables and we will take new initiatives in that respect. There is an emerging health agenda that is being addressed by the food industry. Food poverty and the fact that people in disadvantaged homes do not get access to nutritious foods are part of a multidimensional question. There has recently been a growth in the number of farmers' markets and there are now 101 such markets. Bord Bia has been actively promoting the idea of establishing farmers' markets. Over the past few months, there have been four regional food fora in the north east, the midlands, the south east and the north west. In each forum, we invited people involved in the food industry to meet officials from Bord Bia and the other statutory agencies. We have advocated the growth of farmers' markets and quick access to the local consumer. We have given the area our attention, but it does not provide us with the return we would like as quickly as we would like. However, it is being actively pursued at ministerial level and by the officials in the Department and in the statutory agencies. We intend to keep that momentum going.