Written answers

Thursday, 9 October 2008

Department of Health and Children

Obesity Strategy

5:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 105: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of recommendations of the National Strategy for Tackling Obesity her Department or the Health Service Executive has implemented; the percentage of the number of recommendations that represents; the funding that has been provided to implement the recommendations; the timeframe for the completion and implementation of the recommendations of the National Strategy for Tackling Obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34324/08]

Photo of Mary WallaceMary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Implementation of the report of the National Taskforce on Obesity is ongoing. A range of initiatives are being taken by various Government Departments and Agencies. These include the following:

my Department and the Department of Education and Science are developing healthy eating guidelines for schools. Guidelines for preschools and primary schools are already developed and appropriate healthy eating training by community dieticians with preschool and primary school staff is currently under way. The guidelines for post-primary schools will be published shortly. Guidelines on levels of physical activity are currently being devised by the Population Health Directorate of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

my Department is finalising the first National Nutrition Policy. This will fulfil a key recommendation of the Taskforce on Obesity. While addressing the nutritional needs of the whole population, it will have a particular focus on the 0 -18 year age group.

the Cardiovascular Health Policy Group, due to report this year, will be advising on measures to tackle lifestyle issues like obesity at population level as well as in the primary care setting.

my Department, through the HSE, is participating in the World Health Organisation (WHO) European Growth Surveillance Initiative, which aims to monitor child growth and overweight and obesity trends throughout Europe and is targeted at children aged between 7 to 7.9 years. This initiative will contribute to the development of a National Database to monitor prevalence trends of growth, overweight and obesity in children, as one of the priority actions in Improving Health Outcomes for Children in the National Partnership Agreement-Towards 2016.

In order to give a new impetus to this issue, I am commencing a series of bilateral discussions with relevant Departments with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Taskforce. It is my intention to work closely with Government colleagues to ensure a coherent approach to implementing the recommendations of the Taskforce.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy in respect of relevant aspects of the question.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.