Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter. While I know it is not his brief, I appreciate the time he has taken to come to the House to take it this morning.

In my Commencement matter, I asked that the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, come before the Seanad to provide a detailed breakdown of the budget and the supports contained within it. I have before me the Healthy Ireland Framework report, which sets out four goals. Goal 1 is to "Increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life". Goal 2 is to "Reduce health inequalities". Goal 3 is to "Protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing". Goal 4 is to "Create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland". The outcomes in 2024 were excellent because 19 Sláintecare health communities were established in disadvantaged areas, 14 Departments partook in the framework, 500 GAA organisations were part and parcel of it, 4,500 people benefited from the Sláintecare age-friendly homes programme and five new policies were developed, which are what I want to focus on. These were evidence-led policies and action plans addressing sexual health, physical health, nutrition, obesity, alcohol and mental health protection. Additionally, third level institutions implemented the healthy campus programme.

I read the entire Health Ireland Framework document and the words "cyber safety" are used only once in it. There is a continuous conversation regarding how we mind our children online and how we protect them. This is a fantastic framework which lasts until 2027. I want to bring to the Minister of State's attention that she needs to focus on another line in the framework, or its expansion, regarding how we can support parents, not just young people. The digital age has moved on so much that when we discuss the 4,500 people availing of the age-friendly homes programme, we also need to look at the cohort of parents who have missed the digital age and whose young people are way ahead of them in order to help parents understand how to mind their young people online. I raise that whole awareness and community grouping that is done with various organisations and works through the local authorities with co-ordinators. I am looking to expand the brief within the framework in order that it would capture, for example, cases where parents want information workshops and ensure funding is allocated through the local authorities in support of and in conjunction with local schools and various organisations. We should not limit that to one organisation but extend it to all organisations. There is a gap in information here, and it is not with young people but with parents.

We have experts in An Garda Síochána, a policy in Coimisiún na Meán, psychologists and people in the tech sector. They are the experts that can bring this talk in a meaningful way and communicate it to parents in local community halls. How is the money being spent? Can we find funding that would capture the parents who do not know who to turn to when their young person is online? Parents feel their child is safe when he or she comes in the front door. Times have changed, and now the bully follows them in the front door. We need to be able to speak to parents about how to support their young people. That is health and well-being.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for the opportunity to present to her on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. Apologies for her absence today.

The Healthy Ireland framework and action plan form our national road maps to support good physical, mental and sexual health well-being, including children's health priorities such as preventing obesity, increasing physical activity levels and minimising underage tobacco and alcohol use. The national sex health strategy contains information on educational measures to support children in learning about their bodies, reproduction, safe sex, the importance of sexually transmitted infections, contraception and consent in an age-appropriate way from primary school to senior cycle. Learning about health and well-being across the life course is included in the well-being and SPHE curriculums in our schools, supported by the HSE which works with the education system.

Healthy Ireland collaborates with local authorities and committee partners through the healthy city and counties and Sláintecare healthy communities programmes, and supports Ireland's most disadvantaged areas. The period dignity programme supports women and girls living in period poverty. The Sláintecare healthy communities programme includes parenting, cooking and diet support programmes for families with children aged up to 12 years and engages with families and children living in disadvantaged areas.

On supporting increased physical activity levels and child obesity prevention, the Department of Health works closely with Sport Ireland and the Department of Education to promote physical activity in schools through the active school flag and cycling safety supports. A core objective of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 is to address young people's relationship with alcohol, delaying the age at which they begin. These are some of the measures to reduce access to alcohol for young people and create an environment free from alcohol.

I listened to the Senator's contribution, and heard her raise some valid points around the importance of cybersafety. She spoke of the need for programmes not only targeting children, who may already have an awareness level, but also engaging with parents. I agree with her 100% that we need to target resources at parents. I will, of course, take the opportunity, on foot of the Senator's contribution, to raise this with the Minister. I have no doubt the Senator will raise it directly with her, and probably has on previous occasions. It is important, considering the totality of the other measures around health, the risk of alcohol abuse and the overall health measures for children, that part of the integrated approach should also take account of cybersafety. Safety is part and parcel of parental awareness of what is happening. I will be very pleased to take the comments of the Senator back to the Minister.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for going off script and acknowledging his deep understanding of my ask. I am no different from anybody else. My kids have moved on and are in their 20s now, but I was a parent who did not have information. I have no doubt that if I was a parent of teenagers at the moment, be it boys or girls, having seen the programme that was released last week I would accept there is a huge awareness and information gap. Parents are willing to come together and work as collective communities.

We have good strategies, policies and frameworks. I ask for the bandwidth to be extended to capture the piece that may require a laser focus at the moment. It is in all of our interests to support parents. We know all of them in our communities. I again thank the Minister of State. I will certainly liaise with the Minister. I notice the reply did not refer to the breakdown of the money. That is okay. We will chase that again.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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That is no problem at all. I am sure the breakdown is worth chasing. The Senator's points are well made. As I said in my contribution, it is something that needs to be examined because cybersupport for parents to tackle these issues is important.