Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the measures his Department will take, in view of the increase in child obesity, to promote sporting activities among young children and teenagers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25654/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government recognises that the response to the issue of obesity must address the various complex causes, including diet, lifestyle and environmental issues. As part of this response, we are aware that investment in sport can yield vary tangible returns in improved fitness and health for individuals, which can help combat obesity and result in a consequent reduction in the demand on health services.

My Department funds the Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport in Ireland. The 2007 budget for the ISC has increased by over 30% on 2006, to more than €54 million. This continued increased level of funding ensures that the ISC can continue to embark on initiatives and programmes that increase participation in sport and physical recreation by people of all ages in the country.

The Irish Sports Council's current strategy, Building Sport for Life 2006-2008, identifies increasing participation in sport as its key objective and, based on its research programme with the Economic and Social Research Institute, sets specific targets in this regard.

Children and young people are specific target groups. There are several ISC programmes and initiatives aimed at young people, including the following:

Buntus is a series of programmes aimed at giving young children the best possible start to the lifelong involvement in sport. Operated through the Locals Sport Partnership (LSP) network, it supports the PE Curriculum in Primary Schools and has also been adapted for pre-school children and a range of sports-specific initiatives (e.g. soccer, rugby, golf, basketball and badminton).

Youth Field Sports initiatives include support for the work of the GAA, FAI and the IRFU in expanding their participation base, with a particular emphasis on young people and areas of low participation.

The Women in Sport scheme is a dedicated programme that supports innovative programmes with governing bodies and sports partnerships that target inactive women, with a particular emphasis on teenage girls.

Various projects within the LSP network target children and young people to promote greater levels of physical activity. Some of these projects have been supported in partnership with the Health Services Executive this year, thus recognising the need to challenge the issue of obesity through a multidisciplinary, cross-functional approach.

I will continue to monitor progress in this area closely and I am confident that the programmes provided by the Irish Sports Council to increase participation, especially those programmes targeted at children and young people, will contribute significantly to combating the problem of childhood obesity in this country.