Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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474. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will establish a food forum to address the issue of hunger in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43556/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures is the Government's overarching National Policy Framework for children and young people (aged 0-24 years). This cross-government approach will run from 2014 until 2020 and accommodate a number of constituent strategies. The Framework sets out common outcomes, policy commitments and key actions to ensure innovative and effective ways of working to improve the lives of children and young people. The underpinning principles will ensure that policy and practice protect the rights of children and young people, are family-oriented, promote equality and are evidence-informed and outcomes-focused.

The current focus of my Department is on its participation in the implementation process and on working with relevant Government Departments and non-governmental organization to progress the education-related commitment of the Policy Framework. In this context I do not plan to establish a Food Forum to address the issue of hunger in schools.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will fund a scheme to deliver nutrition, cookery and healthy eating courses for parents within schools. [43557/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Schools may choose to provide information directly to parents, but the main focus in schools is on educating their students on health and well-being.

This takes place firstly through the school curriculum, in the subjects Social, Personal and Health Education, Home Economics, and Physical Education; and secondly through various extra-curricular initiatives. Schools also have policies on healthy eating.

The Government published "Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025". "Healthy Ireland" aims to improve the health not only of our students, but also of our nation. Education has a key role to play in the "Healthy Ireland" agenda. In fact, the Department of Education and Skills, having consulted with the Department of Health and the HSE, in September 2015, issued guidance for post-primary schools, initially, on promoting healthy lifestyles, in the form of Departmental Circular 0051/2015. At the same time, the Department of Health published updated guidelines for post primary schools on the development of healthy eating policies.

Data from the Department's own Lifeskills Survey, 2012, indicate that almost all post-primary schools provide information to students on the importance of a balanced diet. Some 325 post-primary schools responded to the 2012 Survey. Data from the 2015 survey are currently being analysed.