Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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We have a problem with obesity. There has been significant research that shows that if children up to the age of 12 years are obese the likelihood of being obese into adulthood ranges from 80% to 90%. We all know the health implications and challenges that presents to the health service. I understand that based on this research the Government is planning to produce a task force report on the measures to be taken by it to reduce the incidence of obesity.

Many thousands volunteer with sporting organisation that engage children in sporting activity.

Many teachers and parents take children at weekends, evenings and so on. While there is engagement at that level we need a coherent strategy and a coherent plan. I believe something will be published this year but what is the timeline and at what stage is it? When is it likely that an announcement will be made? I would welcome any insight into what is being proposed.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to take this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health and thank Senator Conway for raising this very important issue.

Senators will be very aware of the worrying trend that 61% of adults in Ireland and one in four children is overweight or obese. Reliable contemporary and locally relevant figures show that the annual economic cost of weight-related ill health in adults is €1.1 billion. Overweight and obesity are a public health priority so the special action group on obesity, SAGO, was established by the Minister for Health. SAGO has progressed many actions, such as, for example, the healthy eating guidelines, the report on recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the top shelf of the food pyramid, calories on menus initiative, obesity treatment algorithms for those in primary care health services and a three year childhood obesity campaign.

The current phase of the childhood obesity campaign, which is being run in partnership between Heathy Ireland, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, safefood and the HSE launched yesterday and urges parents to "bring back play" and encourage children to be more active every day. It suggests that parents make practical changes to everyday lifestyle habits which would make a big difference to their children's future health. The campaign also reminds parents about the negative health impacts of excess weight in childhood and how this can impact on a child's quality of life. Healthy Ireland, the Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-25 contains a commitment to develop a national physical activity plan. The health and well-being programme in the Department of Health and the Department of Transport. Tourism and Sport are co-chairing a working group comprising representatives of a range of stakeholders with an interest and an expertise in physical activity to develop the plan.

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death worldwide and is a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, NCD, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. There is significant evidence that physical activity promotes well-being in physical and mental health, prevents disease, improves quality of life and has economic, social and cultural benefits. It is a concern that the majority of Irish people do not meet the levels of physical activity indicated in the existing national physical activity guidelines. The national plan in development will provide a strong focus for modifying unhealthy life habits and promoting awareness of the benefits of physical activity to both physical and mental health for all ages.

There are many organisations and individuals already working to promote physical activity. The attention is, therefore, focused on operational issues aimed at encouraging greater participation in, and greater recognition of, the importance of, physical activity. It is intended that the plan will be finalised as soon as possible. A comprehensive, multi-level approach is required to address the obesity epidemic and to raise the levels of physical activity in the country and the work of SAGO in conjunction with Healthy Ireland is ongoing in this regard.

Senators may also wish to note that an EU action plan to tackle childhood obesity was recently launched. This was a success story from the Irish Presidency. To facilitate implementation of the action plan an EU-wide joint action will commence in January 2015 with Ireland leading on "The cost of Childhood Obesity in Europe". It is clear that addressing issues of overweight and obesity in children will help in developing generations of children who can lead healthier, happier lives.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for a positive and appropriate response. Recently I heard a story about a school, I am not sure which one, where after each class students were taken out to do two laps of the school and, apparently, productivity has increased dramatically. That is one simple example of a school being proactive in terms of physical activity. I am on the board of directors of the CARA Centre in IT Tralee. It is developing techniques for physical activity for people with disabilities. Its work is groundbreaking and perhaps at some stage the Minister might have the opportunity to visit the facility and speak with the team. It works on a shoestring budget. It has been so successful that people are coming from all over the world to view its adapted physical activity programme. It is extraordinary. It achievements in a small institute in Tralee are groundbreaking internationally.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I concur with the opinions expressed by the Senator. In the past ten or 12 years we have been exceptionally careful in certain instances to suppress the opportunity for children to play in our schools because of concerns around health and safety. We need to look at models that are emerging worldwide of very structured play opportunities for children during their break times that will allow them to play and engage in significant physical activity during lunch break. I was pleased to be able to work with Ashoka Ireland in launching a pilot of an initiative emanating from the US, entitled Playworks. The pilot is up and running in a number of schools throughout the country, including in Educate Together school in Newcastle in Galway, with which Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh will be familiar. The initial reports from teachers and parents in that school are exceptionally positive. As Senator Conway pointed out children are more productive. The classroom setting immediately after engaging in physical play and physical activity is much more calm and measured and children, once they get the opportunity to express themselves during formal play time, are more amenable to learning during the formal classroom session. There is much to be learned in this area and many benefits can accrue in the future from adopting a more enlightened approach to play and to structured play in the playground.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills for taking the two matters on the Adjournment and the Senators for raising the issues.