Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. Anybody who has been through that journey of sleepless nights, as, no doubt, the Cathaoirleach is aware, will empathise with the issue the Senator raised. Having raised six babies in my own house, I know I do. Nobody who has gone through those sleepless nights would think it a waste of time for the Senator to raise the issue in the House. Raising awareness of the issue is one thing but raising awareness of the solution is even more important. I had never heard of a sleep trainer until I was made aware of the Senator's Commencement matter. It is probably too late for me but there are many others who would like to know of that. I congratulate the Senator on raising the issue and highlighting a solution. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the matter.

Healthy Ireland is the blueprint for how we will promote, protect and improve the health and well-being of people living in Ireland. One of the main aims of the healthy Ireland framework is to support parents in improving health and well-being outcomes for their children. This is also a key objective of the national child policy framework Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. Approximately 68,000 babies are born in the State every year. Children, that is, those under 18 years of age, account for 25% of the Irish population, which means we have the youngest population in the EU. The Health Service Executive, through the delivery of the national healthy childhood programme, has a key role in supporting families in order that babies can fully realise good health and well-being outcomes. As part of this, the nurture programme for infant health and well-being is being led, co-ordinated and delivered by the HSE's national primary care and national health and well-being divisions. It is a three year programme, supported by a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies to the HSE, which is designed to improve the information and professional supports provided to parents during pregnancy and the first three years of their baby’s life. It includes antenatal education, maternity and infant care, the transition to home and a schedule of child health reviews, vaccinations and screening visits. These are provided as part of the child health programme and delivered by public health nurses, practice nurses, community medical officers and general practitioners.

The subject of sleep difficulties for babies and young children is recognised as a challenge for many parents. It is being addressed as part of the nurture programme. Research with parents on information needs and concerns has identified sleep as an area of specific interest along with issues such as nutrition, general development, screen time and early language. Current evidence indicates that management of sleep and other issues cannot be addressed in isolation and are most appropriately supported in the context of positive infant mental health and parent-child relationships. The outputs of the nurture programme will include management of sleep in the parent materials and resources in development, including a new evidence-based HSE child health website for parents and carers of infants and children, updated books on caring for one's baby and child and a healthy pregnancy book. In addition to parent resources, the programme will also include sleep as a subject in the overall child health training programme being developed for practitioners.