Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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114. To ask the Minister for Health the work his Department is undertaking to deal with obesity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23425/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, I set up a Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO), comprising representatives from Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, The Department of Education and Skills, the Health Service Executive, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and safefood to examine and progress a number of issues to address the problem of obesity. Progress has been made on the Healthy Eating guidelines, Calories on Menus initiative and the Report on Recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid. Treatment algorithms are available for those in Primary Care health services. Arising out of the Irish Presidency of the EU and the Informal Meeting of Health Ministers, the EU Commissioner supported the call for an EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity to be developed by the EU High Level Group On Nutrition and Physical Activity. This Plan has been drafted and will be finalised in 2014.

As one of the measures specifically designed to combat Childhood Obesity, I launched the safefood/HI/HSE three year Childhood Obesity Campaign – Childhood Obesity: Let's take it on – one small step at a time - which is designed to create greater awareness among parents about the threat of childhood overweight and obesity and provide practical tips to help address the problem with the ultimate aim and effecting behaviour change. Healthy Irelandsupports a whole-of-government approach to address the determinants and predictors of health and well-being, many of which fall outside the health sector, e.g. housing, transportation, education, workplaces and environment along with an individual's socioeconomic status. It sets out four central Goals and outlines actions under six Thematic Areas, in which all people and all parts of society can participate to achieve these goals through 64 Actions. Progress in the first year is being focused on a small number of key actions with the greatest potential to make a difference and, in particular, to establish the foundations on which future progress will depend.

Comprehensive, multi-level approaches are required to address the obesity epidemic and the work of SAGO and Healthy Ireland is ongoing.