Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her Departments intentions towards a national cross-sectoral strategy for the establishment of a childhood obesity prevention and intervention service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38770/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Overweight and obesity are a public health priority, the primary remit for which lies with the Minister for Health who has established a Special Action Group on Obesity whom he meets with regularly to progress the obesity prevention agenda. The Special Action Group on Obesity is chaired by the Department of Health and comprises key stake-holders, including the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It is recognised that alone, no single initiative will reverse the growing trend, but a combination of measures should make a difference. For this reason the Special Action Group is concentrating on a range of measures including actions such as:

- Calorie posting in restaurants

- Healthy Eating Guidelines, including the Food Pyramid

- Marketing of Food and Drink to Children

- Development of treatment guidelines

The Department of Health has, with my full support, worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland towards a new Children's Code up to 18 years, which will restrict marketing of high fat, high salt and high sugar foods and drink up to 7pm.

The Department of Health and HSE have developed Treatment Guidelines which help inform primary care staff of the steps to be taken with regard to managing obesity. Both 'adult' and 'child' guidelines have been agreed with health care professionals and are now available.

Within my Department, support was given for Local Authorities to run the annual National Recreation Week which this year had preventing obesity and overweight as one of its themes.

In October and November a new media campaign will run which aims to give parents practical tips on preventing children becoming overweight and obese. This will be the start of a three year campaign which is a joint initiative between SafeFood, the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

In conclusion my Department is prioritising support for the Department of Health in leading Ireland's effort to address the global epidemic of obesity which has been identified by the World Health Organisation.