Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the actions or plans her Department has taken to overcome obesity in children; the meetings she has had with the Departments of Education and Science and Arts, Sport and Tourism in regard to the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5951/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In response to the increase in overweight and obesity in the Irish population the campaign entitled Every Step Counts . . . Small Changes Make the Difference was launched in 2004. This campaign promoted the two main lifestyle areas of healthy eating and regular physical activity. This was followed by a further campaign in November of 2005 entitled Take 5 Steps . . . to a Healthier You. The report of the national taskforce on obesity, which was launched in May 2005, made a number of recommendations designed to enable individuals to make healthy food choices. Additional funding of €3 million has been made available to the Health Service Executive to support the implementation of the report's recommendations.

A multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach is required to implement the recommendations arising from a range of health promotion policies including the report of the national task force on obesity. While officials in the health promotion unit meet regularly with their counterparts in other Departments, the strengthening of these links, including the possible establishment of a new structure, is being actively examined in the Department.

A national nutrition policy is being developed by the Department and it is envisaged that this policy will provide strategic direction on nutrition for the next five to ten years. The target group is young people, aged under 18 years, and the priority actions are obesity and food poverty. A national consultation has taken place and the policy is due to be published in 2006.