Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on encouraging third level colleges and institutions to adopt the health promoting college concept and to actively address issues concerning healthy eating, drinking behaviour and sedentary lifestyle patterns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3604/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 564: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on catering training colleges placing greater emphasis on healthy food options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3608/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 564 together.

Within a broad health promotional framework, higher education institutions develop policies to create and maintain an environment which is conducive to the health and well-being of students and staff. Guidelines in this regard have been published by the Higher Education Authority. All Higher Education Institutions have or are developing policies on Alcohol in line with the Framework launched by the Minister for Health and Children in October 2001.

All of the Institutes of Technology provide medical staff on campus (nurses and doctors) who frequently hold events promoting healthy lifestyles and make literature available to all students on exercise, diet, alcohol, safe sex etc. Institutes also provide financial and other support to clubs and societies and encourage all students to take part in exercise and sports. Institutes have policies on the use and abuse of alcohol — particularly in relation to events organised by the Students' Union.

In the University sector a number of College Health Services have part-time Health promotion officers who run Health promotion weeks and develop educational material, both paper and online, focusing on Mental health, Sexual health, Nutrition, Exercise and on issues re Alcohol and Drugs and run workshops. A typical Health promotion week would involve Sport, Peer Supporters, catering etc. The health promotion officer at TCD runs a smoking cessation programme.

Many University counselling services also run workshops focused on mental health issues such as Stress management, resilience and coping skills. Some but not all counselling services have addiction counsellors.

A National Food and Health Collaborative Research Programme has been funded under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. The collaborative programme is a formal joint venture between University College Dublin, University College Cork, the University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, University of Ulster, Queen's University Belfast and Teagasc.

The objective of the programme is to establish a cohesive and integrated national framework for research and training in the area of food and health and associated agri-food related areas.