Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the specific targets or commitments she has taken to tackle the rising levels of obesity here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47497/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress on implementing the recommendations of the National Task Force on Obesity; the amount of funding that has been dedicated towards reducing obesity here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47498/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress on implementing the recommendations of the National Task Force on Obesity; the amount of funding that has been dedicated towards reducing obesity here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47578/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the specific targets or commitments she has taken to tackle the rising levels of obesity here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47579/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144, 157 and 158 together.

Implementation of the report of the National Taskforce on Obesity (NTFO) is ongoing. By its nature, implementation of many of the recommendations was going to take place in the medium term with some of the actions more long-term. A survey by the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre on the implementation of the NTFO Report shows that there has been action and progress on 60% of the recommendations. There is considerable evidence of action and delivery at local and community level.

Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for Health Promotion, I have made tackling obesity one of my key priorities. In order to give a new impetus to this issue I am currently in the process of conducting a series of bilateral discussions with relevant Departments with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Taskforce.

I am also in the process of establishing a multi-sectoral group representative of key Government Departments, Non-Governmental Organisations and other key experts to oversee implementation of the Task Force's recommendations. Its first task will be to report before next Easter on the progress to date in the implementation of the report of the Task Force. I intend to Chair this Group and the first meeting will take place in January.

At Department of Health and Children level, 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 Cardiovascular Health Policy Group, due to report early next 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 EU High Level Group on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, is also playing an advocacy role within the EU to reform policies relating to healthy eating. Specifically the Group has set targets for the reduction of salt in foods, on which work has already commenced. The next stage will be setting targets for a reduction in sugar and fats in food.

The HSE established a Working Group to implement the health related recommendations of the report of the NTFO. The working group has developed a framework for Action on Obesity. Among the actions already taken are: the development of specialist hospital services for the treatment of obesity; the development of obesity management programme for overweight children in the midland region; funded clinical management services in Loughlinstown, Crumlin and Galway; ongoing media campaign 'Little Steps Go a Long Way'. A sum of €3 million has been allocated to the HSE to fund obesity prevention and treatment programmes. This is in addition to HSE spending on health promotion activities.

My Department has been actively involved with other Government Departments in pursuing the implementation of the key recommendations of the NTFO with the result that a range of initiatives are being taken by various Government Departments and Agencies. These include: working with the Department and the Department of Education and Science on the development of Healthy Eating Guidelines for pre-schools and primary schools. Appropriate healthy eating training by community dieticians with preschool and primary school staff is currently underway. Guidelines for post-primary schools will be published shortly; working with the Department of Social & Family Affairs on drawing up literature for healthy food choices for the school food programme; liaising with the Department of Agriculture and Food who are leading out on the EU Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. This scheme will build on the "Food Dudes" Programme. There will also be consultation with the Department of Transport on their Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan which contains proposals for the development of a National Cycling Policy framework and the promotion of cycling and walking.