Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timeframe for delivering the recommendations contained in the National Taskforce on Obesity report published in 2005; if she will clarify which of the 93 recommendations have been implemented to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12979/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has established a Working Group to implement the recommendations of The Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity, for which it has the lead responsibility. A sum of €3 million was allocated for this purpose in 2006. This 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. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the timeframe for implementation investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

My Department is working to address the wider health determinants, including issues such as diet, physical activity, food production and promotion which are covered in the Task Force's recommendations.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) which found that children here have a limited daily consumption of fruit and vegetables, while a fifth of children were found to be under-active or severely under-active; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12980/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In August 2007 my Department published The Health Behaviour in School Children (HBSC) survey 2006. This data from the HBSC survey provides a comprehensive picture of the health behaviours of school aged children. The data has shown a need to continue promoting the consumption of fruit and vegetables among children. Likewise, the data in relation to physical activity highlights the need to encourage children to remain active and to provide as many opportunities as possible for all children to take exercise. My Department will forward a copy of the HBSC survey to the Deputy directly for his information.

My Department and the Department of Education and Science have been involved in developing healthy eating guidelines for schools. Guidelines for pre-schools and primary schools are already developed and appropriate healthy eating training by community dieticians with preschool and primary school staff is currently underway. A number of schools are already implementing the guidelines. Post-primary school guidelines are being printed and will be launched shortly.

In order to address the nutritional needs of the population, my Department is in the final stages of the development of a National Nutrition Policy which will indicate how the appropriate policy direction for the nutritional needs of the population can be met in the coming years. Guidelines and recommendations on levels of physical activity are currently being devised by the Population Health Directorate of the Health Service Executive.