Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the evidence based intervention programmes that have been introduced to primary schools in line with exemplars of good practice such as NEAPS and the Food Dude programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8613/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports the view that good nutrition is central to a child's educational development. Evidence from existing studies shows that there is a significant positive relationship between improved dietary status and school performance. A knowledge of what constitutes a nutritionally balanced diet is acknowledged as being of importance for students. To support this, nutrition education is featured in the curriculum in both primary and post primary level.

I am pleased to report that many schools have developed healthy eating policies in cooperation with their parents' associations. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Children has published Food and Nutrition Guidelines for schools. Many of the Health Service Executive Areas have health promotion programmes in place to assist schools in this regard. The EU is currently at consultation phase in relation to a proposed EU School Fruit Scheme which would be aimed at improving healthy eating patterns in schools. The lead Department in relation to this proposed EU scheme is the Department of Agriculture and Food.