Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the recent survey (details supplied) carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation which researched the state of nutrition standards in post-primary schools and which found that 40% of the schools surveyed did not offer free, clean drinking water; and her plans to reform dietary and nutrition standards in secondary schools. [26008/15]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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In the question I ask the Minister her views on a recent survey carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation which researched nutrition standards in post-primary schools and which found 40% of schools did not offer free, clean drinking water; her plans to reform dietary and nutrition standards in secondary schools and if she will update the House on her approach to the issue.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I welcome the valuable findings in the Irish Heart Foundation survey of 39 post-primary schools published in April. The Government has published Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025. Healthy Ireland aims to improve the health not only of students but also of the nation. Education has a key role to play in the Healthy Ireland agenda. My Department, having consulted the Department of Health and the HSE, will in September issue guidance for post-primary schools initially on promoting healthy lifestyles. At the same time, the Department of Health will publish updated guidelines for post-primary schools on the development of healthy eating policies. Data from my Department's life skills survey, 2012, indicate that almost all post-primary schools provide information for students on the importance of a balanced diet. Some 325 post-primary schools responded to the 2012 survey. Data from the 2015 survey are being analysed.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her response and commend the Irish Heart Foundation for its work on the survey and its valuable work in trying to promote healthier lifestyles and awareness of how to ensure people look after their hearts. As I indicated in the question, the results of the survey of food provision in post-primary schools, in which 39 schools were surveyed, showed that 40% of secondary schools did not provide free water for students. Students have to fill an empty bottle in the bathrooms or buy water from a vending machine where the price of a bottle of water is approximately the same as that of a sugary drink available alongside it. This is unacceptable. The survey also showed that 47% of schools had vending machines and that the gross annual income from each school was €2,000. We do not need to elaborate on the increasing obesity crisis. The Minister said policy advice would be given to schools on the promotion of healthy lifestyles and healthy eating.

What policies or requirements will the Minister put in place to ensure healthy foods are available in schools, which the survey indicates is not the case in the majority of schools?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Drinking water should be available in all post-primary schools. If a problem is identified with a school's water supply, it can submit an application to my Department for emergency funding to correct the problem. I am aware of some cases in which drinking water is supplied from machines. I drink water from my tap at home and, I am sure, most people in this House do likewise. The water that comes out of the tap is supposed to be drinkable other than in some exceptional circumstances. The board of management of a school can apply to my Department to address problems that might arise in such circumstances but I do not envisage bottled water being provided in every school. That is how I interpret the Deputy's question but perhaps I misunderstood him. Only where a problem arises in respect of water supplied through the taps should we supply water by alternative means.

I have strong views on healthy eating, healthy living and active schools. The Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy English, and I have engaged with our colleagues on this issue because we want to drive the healthy eating agenda in schools. I have outlined the measures that are being taken in this regard. National policy on healthy eating is led by the Department of Health but my Department is also very active in this area.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure how the Minister got the impression that I was advocating for bottles of water to be supplied free of charge. I was referring to accessible and clean drinking water. The Minister may be able to fill a glass of water at her kitchen sink but students at school do not have access to kitchen sinks. If fresh water drinking points are not available, the only way the students can get water is by filling up their bottles in the bathrooms. I do not think that is acceptable. The survey by the Irish Heart Foundation found that 40% of schools do not have clean drinking water points. Wide-ranging policies are not sufficient when we need clear strategies and standards for the provision of healthy food in secondary schools. Will the Minister commit to putting in place a national catering standard for secondary schools and to banning vending machines in secondary schools? They are not available in primary schools for the good reason they encourage the consumption of junk food. They should not be available in secondary schools either.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We regularly issue healthy lifestyle guidelines to post-primary schools and will be issuing them again in September. Issues relating to vending machines are addressed in the guidelines. I do not have the authority to dictate to schools on this issue but I have advised them to make healthy eating options available. Approximately 30% of post-primary schools have vending machines, a reduction from 35% in 2009. Much of the work required in this area involves changing cultures and encouraging healthy lifestyles in order that young people do not want to consume fizzy drinks. If a fizzy drink is not available in the school, it will not improve the student's health if he or she goes to the shop next door to buy one. It is more effective to introduce measures to change attitudes and cultures. Such measures are being implemented across Government.