Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy decisions he has taken and is taking to stop the growing obesity problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43252/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health has primary responsibility for policy in relation to obesity and is supported by my Department in the effort to address the issue of childhood obesity.

My Department launched ‘Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 -2020’ in 2014. ‘Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures’ is the first overarching national policy framework for children and young people aged from birth to 24 years and will be implemented by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in collaboration with all Government departments and key State agencies. The policy framework adopts an outcomes approach based on five national outcomes for children and young people, the first outcome is ‘Active and Healthy’. One of the aims under this outcome is that all children are physically healthy and able to make positive health choices. The Framework includes a range of government commitments, with responsibility across a number of Departments, to tackle this issue of childhood obesity.

My Department is represented on the Special Action Group on Obesity which has progressed a range of measures to tackle this issue.

The Area Based Childhood (ABC) programme 2013-2016 is a €29.7m programme which is being co-funded by my Department and the Atlantic Philanthropies, to improve outcomes for children in some of our most disadvantaged areas. Some of the initiatives are encompassing empowering healthy choices for children and families, in relation to diet and exercise, as part of a holistic approach to improving children’s lives.

It is widely accepted by researchers that there is a strong link between physical activity and overweight, and habits formed in youth tend to carry over into adulthood. The Growing Up in Ireland Study also clearly confirms this finding. Young people who took more exercise were less likely to be overweight or obese, especially in comparison to those who never exercised. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have responsibility for Play and Recreation Policy which has been set out in ‘READY, STEADY, PLAY! A National Play Policy’ and the ‘National Recreation Policy for Young People’, both of which seek to actively promote the participation of children and young people in play and exercise.