Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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843. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the funding to promote breast feeding in maternity hospitals was cut; if it will be reinstated; the way in which breast feeding will be promoted to increase levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35567/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Increasing the rates of breastfeeding in Ireland is an important national health policy objective and is emphasised in the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025, and the recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. The HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan, Breast Feeding in a Healthy Ireland, 2016 – 2021 sets out the priority areas to be addressed over the next 5 years to improve breastfeeding supports, to enable more mothers in Ireland to breastfeed and to improve health outcomes for mothers and children in Ireland. Funding to promote breast feeding in maternity hospitals remains ongoing.

The Deputy may be referring to funding in relation to the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was launched by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 and is a global effort to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

The Initiative is funded by the HSE, who in 2016 commissioned a research team at Trinity College Dublin to undertake a review of the existing Initiative in place since 1991. The review, which highlighted a number of issues, recommended the need for a revised model to be developed in line with the Maternity Strategy and the HSE National Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2020.

A key finding of the Trinity Review was that there was no difference in breast feeding rates in hospitals that had achieved ‘Baby Friendly’ designation, and those that hadn’t achieved this designation.

Following completion of the Trinity Review, the HSE has paused funding of the existing model and is currently working on a revised model with input from maternity services and other key stakeholders to ensure a model suitable for the promotion and support of breastfeeding in Ireland is achieved.

The HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan outlines the actions needed to enhance breastfeeding rates and provide skilled support to mothers, through maternity services, hospitals, primary care services and in partnership with voluntary breastfeeding organisations and other stakeholders. A new support source for mothers is provided at which was launched in 2015.