Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether amendments are required to the planning legislation to enable schools, in conjunction with local planning authorities, to introduce no fry zones or healthy eating zones in the vicinity of their schools; and his views on no fry zones around schools. [34326/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Planning legislation is the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

However, both the National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland and the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan recognise the role of the built environment in making it easier for people to make healthy choices. Under these policy initiatives, guidelines and support materials are to be drawn up for those developing the built environment in relation to reducing the obesogenic environment and promoting the importance of physical activity, led by the Department of Health and the HSE.

Schools and the wider education sector have a crucial role to play in supporting students to make healthy choices. Through their primary and post primary education students are equipped with the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make healthier life choices and to develop the resilience to reject negative options. This can be seen across in the curriculum, through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. It will also be an important component of Wellbeing, the new area of learning being introduced to all first year students from September 2017, as part of the implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle.

My Department has issued a circular on the promotion of healthy lifestyles to all primary and post primary schools (Circular numbers 0013/2016 and 0051/2015 respectively). These circulars aim to support and strengthen schools’ efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health.

All of the proactive work done in schools complements the Government's Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025 - Healthy Ireland.