Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the responsibilities the Minster of State with responsibility for children has in tackling youth obesity and levels of physical inactivity in children; her plans to take a lead on this issue in view of the cross jurisdictional nature of this problem and the cross jurisdictional nature of her office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24331/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Health and Children has asked me to take the lead role in dealing with health problems arising from obesity and physical inactivity. In doing so I maintain close contact with my colleague, Barry Andrews, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Office of the Minister for Children has had an important role in developing successful programmes and initiatives which promote physical activity. These include the National Play Policy document for children, entitled "Ready, Steady, Play" and "Teenspace", the National Recreation Policy for Young People, which was published in September 2007. Through its work on supporting the implementation of these policies, the Office liaises closely with local authorities and the National Sports Council on initiatives which promote the development of appropriate facilities and programmes which are targeted at children and young people. The HSE is currently developing physical activity guidelines, which are expected to be available later this year.

My Department will be publishing the first National Nutrition Policy later this year. Recommendations will focus, primarily, on the nutrition needs of the 0-18 year age group. In addition 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 pre-school and primary school staff is currently underway. Post-primary school guidelines will be launched in the coming weeks.

The "Little Steps Go A Long Way" campaign, which I launched last week, is an all island campaign led by the HSE, Safefood and the Health Promotion Agency of Northern Ireland. These agencies are working together with a common agenda of raising awareness of the growing problem of obesity and how we might address it. This partnership will support achieving maximum impact from the campaign and value for money for all involved. The Government has agreed to the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) which will facilitate intersectoral collaboration on the prevention of chronic diseases. It is intended that further measures to tackle obesity and to promote good health will be advanced through the IDG.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to ensure that physical education in school is interlinked with out-of-school physical activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24333/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.