John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport her plans to progress co-operation between her Department, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children with the aim of having a fitter and healthier population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14072/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Sport and physical activity has the potential to enrich the lives of all people and everyone of all ages and backgrounds should know that they can benefit from physical activity. The value of sport and physical activity to the nation simply cannot be over-emphasised in improving our health, in creating a sense of identity and belonging and in boosting our morale.

Sedentary lifestyles are widespread in Ireland and throughout the world. The challenge now and for the foreseeable future is to extend people's health expectancy or years of life free from illness or disability. Sport and physical activity can also be promoted as an alternative to anti-social behaviour. More than this, it develops the personal skills of individuals. Values such as tolerance, self-discipline, team spirit and strength of character are demanded, practised and promoted. In this way, sport serves as an indispensable educational tool in schools, colleges and in the wider community.

I am pleased to say that co-operation already exists between my Department and the Departments of Education and Skills and Health and Children, with my Department participating in several cross-departmental groups in this regard. The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport is represented on the children and young people's participation partnership committee, and on related sub-groups, to provide strategic oversight and direction for the work of developing and promoting youth participation. The initiative arises under the national children's strategy and the committee is led by the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs. It is also participating in the cross-departmental group to develop a positive ageing strategy, which is being undertaken by the office for older people within the Department of Health and Children. The Department is also represented on a steering group developing proposals for an overall national substance misuse strategy. The group is chaired by the Department of Health and Children and the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for drugs. Part of the strategy will relate to preventative measures and the subjects of sports and arts activities are expected to be included within this framework.

The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sports Council, ISC, which is funded by the Department, has a statutory responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. The Irish Sports Council, in pursuance of its objectives, works in partnership with the Departments of Education and Skills and Health and Children and agencies thereof. Examples of such co-operation include the Buntús programme, the primary physical education in-service programme and the junior cycle PE support service with the Department of Education and Skills and the Buntús Start programme, the development of the national physical activity guidelines for Ireland and Get Ireland Active initiatives within the Department of Health and Children and the HSE.

It is my intention to build on the existing relationships between my Department and the Departments of Education and Skills and Health and Children by encouraging closer collaboration and partnership in the development and implementation of strategies to encourage participation in sport and active lifestyles.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her reply and take this opportunity, along with my colleagues, to wish her well in her new portfolio. I was delighted to hear the Minister speak last week of the importance of tourism, culture and sport as a brief. It is hoped she will get the support and backing she believes it deserves. I also wish former Minister and Deputy, Mr. Martin Cullen, well on his road to recovery. It cannot be said that there is a need for gender balance in this House in regard to sports issues. The matter is in safe hands on all sides of the House.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps the opposite is true.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Blessed are we among women.

The tabling of this question was prompted by a discussion at a committee last week at which it was revealed that 4,000 people per annum in Ireland die of obesity. This figure has risen from 2,500 some years ago. The Health Service Executive officials stated at that committee meeting that more than half of all primary school children do not reach the recommended level of fitness. Of concern was the frightening statistic that nine out of ten girls and seven out of ten boys are, on reaching 15 years of age, lacking in fitness. In 1960, we had the leanest children in Europe. We now have the fattest children in Europe.

It was suggested at that meeting that the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport should work in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, of which the Minister is well aware, and the Department of Health and Children in ensuring we become a fitter and healthier nation. The sports partnerships of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport are doing fantastic work in my county and have been rolled out countrywide and could perhaps be rolled out to schools.

The need for legislation from the Department of Health and Children in regard to food labelling has been mentioned often. The traffic light system could be used in supermarkets to highlight those foods which are damaging to one's health. There is so much that can be done. While I accept the Minister has only recently taken up this portfolio, perhaps she will state if she supports that proposal and if she sees a benefit in banning vending machines in secondary schools, in particular those which contain unhealthy foods.

The Minister referred in her reply to some of the schemes being implemented through the Irish Sports Council and so on. However, there is so much more that can be done. It is hoped that, as soon as the Minister gets her feet under the table, the effect of departmental co-operation will be evident in our nation and schools, although I accept children spend only a certain amount of time at school. For example, it could be stipulated that where sports capital funding is provided to a school, such a school must be available after hours for activities. Perhaps the Minister will outline in what other ways it will be evident at ground level that there is co-operation between the relevant Departments to ensure we become a fitter and healthier nation.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy O'Mahony for his good wishes. He is probably one of the few people in the House who has not asked me for tickets for an all-Ireland final. He probably has access to them himself.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is early days yet.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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He has better access. I agree wholeheartedly with everything the Deputy said. Everything points to the fact that the school years are critical. Participation in sport during the school years, for all the reasons I have mentioned, is important and also gives a lifelong interest. During my time as Minister for Education and Science I highlighted the fact that principals were telling children not to run in the playground. I made a big issue of it to the extent that I advised parents that if children run they will fall, but it does not mean that somebody has caused them to fall and, therefore, there was no reason to take insurance cases. It petered out. It was just fear on the part of principals.

Deputy O'Mahony raised the issue of vending machines, another matter which arose when I was Minister for Education and Science. I recommended that where vending machines exist - many schools use them for revenue - there would be an option of healthy food. The situation has improved over the years. From my visits to schools over the years I have noted they now offer bottles of water and healthier foods, rather than fizzy drinks. Perhaps that is the way to address the matter, rather than banning vending machines which schools see as part of revenue.

On school facilities, in recent years there have been some tremendous programmes, in particular with new school buildings which have sports halls etc. attached to them. Primary and secondary schools can also apply under sports capital funding if they show that at times when the schools are on holidays, which is quite a number of weeks during the year, the facilities would be made available to clubs for at least 30 hours per week. That is already a condition of the scheme. There is no point in having good facilities around the country which are not fully shared by the community.

I see the interaction between different Departments on health activity issues as crucial. As the Deputy said, the five minute speech I made on the day I was appointed Minister highlighted the fact that fitter, active children should be encouraged and the fact that people are living longer and need to be supported in activities, which can be accomplished through working with local authorities.

On the issue of schools, I was chuffed that my first function in my sporting capacity was last Saturday when I presented the cup for junior camomile to my alma mater, the Presentation Secondary School in Thurles which beat Grennan College in Thomastown 6-10 to 1-2. With two cousins on the team, I was particularly proud to be able to do it. Whether they, like me, will continue with sporting activity or give it up, is one of the challenges. The figures the Deputy mentioned are correct. Girls are great for participation in primary school but by the time they get to 15 years of age they tend to opt out, so we need to support them through that. Having sport and activity for all, rather than just competitive sport, is critical for children who are not competitive but need to be kept fit and active.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Money spent and invested at an early stage in education and children is money which will be saved later on, in terms of cures which have to be put in place when people lose their health or it deteriorates. We should not be put off by the fact that some guidelines which need to be implemented will cost us money. They may cost us a small amount now but they will save a lot of money later.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot disagree with the Deputy; he is correct. It is important for young people, women's participation in sport and people with disabilities. Many sports partnerships now have officers with specific responsibility for including such people. There is great potential right across the abilities, ages and sectors for people to work together and promote the idea of a healthy lifestyle, of which sport is a part.