Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the ACE schools project aimed at addressing obesity in school children in the Health Service Executive Dublin mid-Leinster region will be expanded to other areas; her plans to address the growing problem of obesity in the population here particularly in children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2717/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity, "Obesity — the Policy Challenges", was published in 2005 and contained 93 recommendations aimed at tackling overweight and obesity. The Health Service Executive has established a Working Group to implement the health sector recommendations of the Task Force on Obesity for which the HSE has the lead responsibility and for which €3 million has been allocated. This is in addition to the annual spend of €25 million on health promotion activities, €5 million of which is also utilised in specifically anti-obesity initiatives.

The Taskforce and my Department recognise that a multi-sectoral approach is necessary, involving other state agencies and government departments and real engagement of the public and private sectors to implement the report's recommendations. My Department continues to liaise with other Government Departments and is at present working with the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration to progress implementation of the Taskforces's recommendations.

The schools project to which the Deputy refers relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.