Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the implementation of a policy for the provision of an integrated inter-Departmental approach to addressing overweight and obesity; if she will implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3500/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will implement an evaluation of the National Strategy on Obesity in conjunction with all Government Departments, relevant bodies and agencies, industry and consumer groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3501/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the development 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 in conjunction with all Government Departments; if she will implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3502/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on seeking the views of children and young people and those members of the population who are, at present, overweight or obese as part of addressing overweight and obesity; if she will undertake research on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3578/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on using the health and immunisation programme in primary schools as an opportunity to work in partnership with parents and children in development life skills, which support healthy eating and active living, in detecting, by measurement, children who are at risk of overweight or underweight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3612/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on seeking the views of children and young people and those members of the population who are, at present, overweight or obese as part of addressing overweight and obesity; if she will undertake same research; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3627/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Health and Children 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. [3506/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 231, inclusive, 233 to 235, inclusive, and 281 together.

The National Taskforce on Obesity published its report in 2005. The Taskforce recommended a multi-sectoral approach involving State agencies, Government Departments and the private sectors.

The Taskforce saw the school as a key setting in tackling overweight and obesity in children and recommended that schools should be encouraged to develop consistent policies to promote healthy eating and active living. My Department has published "Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Preschools" and "Food and Nutrition guidelines for Primary Schools" and guidelines for post-primary schools are currently being finalised. These guidelines are designed to assist schools to develop a healthy eating policy and promote the concept of healthy eating through a supportive school community. The guidelines will be available as part of a training resource for teachers – trained jointly by Community Dietitians and SPHE Co-ordinators.

My Department is engaged with other Departments to ensure that the impact on health is considered in policy development and to ensure progress in implementation of those recommendations of the Taskforce which are outside the remit of my Department.

A key recommendation of the Taskforce was the development of a National Nutrition Policy. My Department is currently finalising this policy, which will provide strategic direction on nutrition for the next ten years. The target group is young people, 0-18 years, and the priority actions are intended to reduce obesity and food poverty. The policy will be published this spring.The HSE has established a Working Group to implement the health sector recommendations of the Taskforce on Obesity for which the HSE has the lead responsibility and for which €3 million has been allocated. Funding has been provided by the HSE to University College Dublin to record height and weight in children at school entry point as part of an EU initiative to counteract obesity. The development of a national database to monitor prevalence trends of growth, overweight and obesity was also funded. The HSE is working with the Irish Universities Nutritional Alliance to research food and nutrition in children. Funding has also been allocated to the Irish Heart Foundation to undertake a project on marketing of foods to children.