Written answers

Thursday, 6 April 2017

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposal on developing family food initiatives to support children and families experiencing food poverty to have access to healthy food and to develop cooking and food growing skills; if he, working with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, will consider the development of family food initiatives and the funding of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17251/17]

Photo of Marcella Corcoran KennedyMarcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of proposals on family food initiatives to support children and families experiencing food poverty to have access to healthy food and to develop cooking and food growing skills.

My Department has made our own commitments to action in this area in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan- A Healthy Weight for Life, a 10 year strategy launched last September. The Department has identified a targeted action to scale up effective community based programmes with a focus on disadvantaged areas to enhance knowledge and skills with regard to healthy eating and active living. (Action 9.2) In conjunction with the Health Service Executive, it is recommended that special emphasis be placed on providing guidance, advice and training to parents on healthy food and healthy eating. The Health Service Executive has already developed and is implementing two projects ‘Cook It ‘ and ‘Healthy Food Made Easy’ both of which focus on healthy eating and healthy cooking for disadvantaged communities.

In addition, Agri Aware’s programme Incredible Edibles, which comes with the backing of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, my Department and the Department of Education and Skills, is a healthy eating initiative for Primary School pupils. It encourages schools across the country to get busy growing carrots, lettuce, potatoes, strawberries, turnips and herbs. Schools are supplied with grow packs, activity sheets and videos containing everything needed to grow these healthy foods.

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