Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 540: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the developments and implementation as part of a health impact assessment, schemes and policies, including public procurement, that encourage healthy eating and active living, particularly those aimed at children and vulnerable groups; if she will develop and implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3504/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 548: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on encouraging and supporting the development of consistent school policies to promote healthy eating and active living including addressing physical activity and school meals; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3592/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 561: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on working with the national parents' organisations for primary and post-primary schools in helping them to support parents in the encouragement of healthy eating and active living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3605/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 540, 548 and 561 together.

Our schools already promote, support and encourage healthy eating and physical exercise in a range of ways.

Physical education is part of the curriculum at primary and at post-primary level and plays a key role not just in giving students an opportunity to exercise during the school day but also in encouraging a positive attitude towards physical activity which students will hopefully carry with them into adult life.

With regard to educating students about making good food choices, a curriculum in Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) is mandatory for all primary students and its implementation is also being assisted by a full-time support service. Health and well-being along with food and nutrition are two areas dealt with under the "taking care of my body" unit of that curriculum. The objective is that by fifth and sixth class, pupils should be enabled to realise that they, as individuals, have some responsibility for adopting a healthy balanced diet and for taking regular and appropriate exercise.

All second level schools have been required to provide SPHE as part of the junior cycle curriculum since September 2003. The aims of this programme include preparing students for responsible decision-making and promoting their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.

Quite apart from curricular provision, schools can implement measures to encourage physical activity during school breaks and schools already play a major role in promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport.

Together, the above initiatives ensure that children not only get opportunities to exercise at school but also learn about balanced nutrition and making good food choices. I believe that schools are playing their part in terms of promoting a healthy diet and adequate physical exercise for children. However, it is important to remember that children spend just 20% of their waking hours at school so schools can only do so much with regard to promoting exercise and healthy eating and the main role must rest with parents.

The provision and sale of certain foods in schools, is primarily a matter for the Board of Management of individual schools who may devise policies around the types of food that are available on the school premises and such policies should be driven by the needs and the welfare of the students. I know that many schools have developed healthy eating policies in co-operation with their parents' associations, and I would encourage others to do so.