Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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534. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address levels of childhood obesity and the measures his Department is taking to promote healthy eating and increased levels of physical activity among children and young persons. [27333/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Childhood obesity is a public health issue in Ireland. The recent Healthy Ireland Survey shows that adult obesity seems to be levelling out however, 60% are still overweight. The most recent health information data on childhood obesity from 2012 studies Growing Up in Ireland and the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative,confirm that one in four children are overweight or obese.

This Government established a Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO). The aim was to advise the Minister, based on best available evidence, on how best to halt the increase in rates of obesity and how to reduce the burden on individuals, communities and the State. Its work programme has included:

- The development of a new Obesity Policy and Action Plan for 2015 – 2025:

- Publication of Healthy Eating Guidelines and a revised Food Pyramid;

- Production of a report on Top Shelf Foods to promote healthy eating;

- Commissioned a Health Impact Assessment in relation to fiscal measures on sugar sweetened drinks;

- With Safefood, a multimedia campaign to tackle childhood obesity; and

- Action during the Irish presidency of the EU which led to the development of an EU Joint Action on childhood obesity.

My Department is currently developing Heads of a Health and Wellbeing Bill which will include calorie posting on menus.

In addition to the above, my Department assisted in food labelling, in the development of a number of treatment algorithms and clinical guidelines, providing for child monitoring in primary care, worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on advertising of food to children in the broadcast media and is also working on a Code of Practice for the food industry in relation to advertising, product placement and sponsorship.

Furthermore, Healthy Ireland was established to address the health of the nation. The Taoiseach and all Ministers agreed to work across Government Departments to achieve better health for the Irish population. The Government has established a Cross Sectoral Group to oversee this process and a Healthy Ireland Council has been appointed to advice and guide the process. Both groups have been proactive in relation to obesity. One of the agreed programmes is the development of a National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland. My Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in partnership with a number of other key stakeholders have developed this draft Plan to encourage greater levels of physical activity by everyone living in Ireland and encouraging more children to be active will be a key focus of attention. I will shortly be seeking the approval of Government to publish the Plan later this year.

Also, my Department is finalising a national Obesity Policy and Action Plan. It will require the support of many sectors. The Obesity Policy will be ambitious in its scope and will have a key focus on children, including prevention, early intervention and treatment. It will set clear targets and a set of responsibilities for achieving these targets. The Policy will take a life course view with emphasise on maternity and childhood phases. The Action Plan will be concise and focus on outcomes.