Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

218. To ask the Minister for Health if he will be reporting on the national obesity plan as per the action point in Ten Steps Forward to report annually on the plan; if so, when; if a report card will be produced on the progress to date in view of the fact that the report is over a year old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2626/18]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

220. To ask the Minister for Health the status of recommendation 2.1 of the national obesity plan; if the terms of reference for the establishment of a working group to develop a set of guidelines on the built environment have been drafted; the stage the drafting and setting up of this group is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2628/18]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

221. To ask the Minister for Health if, as per recommendation 2.4 of the national obesity plan, his officials have begun preparatory work for making a submission for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s review of the children’s communication code on advertising of energy-dense food and drinks when it is ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/18]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 220 and 221 together.

My Department has established an Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group. The national Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) - under the Chair of my Department - is comprised of representatives from a range of Government Departments and Agencies including the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

The Terms of Reference of this group include to:

- Promote, develop and support action on the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) across all relevant Government Departments, agencies; and sectors, and

- Identify processes for engaging with networks of stakeholders.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the OPIOG held its inaugural meeting on the 19 October 2017 with further meetings to be arranged at agreed intervals for the purposes of providing oversight to the implementation of the OPAP. The next meeting of the OPIOG is expected in February.

At its inaugural meeting the OPIOG noted a progress report on the implementation of the OPAP. A similar update on progress with implementation was provided to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question Ref 37442/17 on the 11 of September 2017. My Department can provide the Deputy with a copy of this Parliamentary Question reply if required.

Both recommendations 2.1 and 2.4 of the OPAP will be progressed within the framework of the work of the OPIOG. The latter recommendation on making a submission on the Children's Communication Code on advertising of energy dense food and drinks is set within the context of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's review of the code. My Department has been informed that this review will commence later this year.

With respect to recommendation 2.1, at its inaugural meeting the OPOIG agreed to establish two sub-groups for Reformulation and Healthy Eating. The question of other sub-groups, including one for the built environment, will be reviewed by the group on an on-going basis. In line with Actions 31 and 59 of the National Physical Activity Plan, which commit to developing guidelines and support materials for those working in developing the built environment in order to promote the importance of physical activity (31), and to develop a programme of on-going stakeholder communication and engagement to ensure delivery of the Plan (59), it is intended to hold a Stakeholder Forum in 2018. The planned Forum will focus on the theme of the Built Environment.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

219. To ask the Minister for Health when a model (details supplied) will be established; the timeframe for same; the way in which his Department is working towards facilitating a cross-sectoral and cross-departmental approach to healthy lifestyles especially with the Departments of Education and Skills and Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/18]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

222. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to encourage post-primary schools to develop healthy eating policies (details supplied); if his Department requires that schools do this; the legislative provisions or other mechanisms that must be agreed to do so; the guidance, other than circulars, that has been provided by his Department to encourage and assist in the development of healthy eating policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2630/18]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 222 together.

My Department has established an Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group. The national Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) - under the Chair of my Department - is comprised of representatives from a range of Government Departments and Agencies including the Department of Education & Skills and the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection.

The Terms of Reference of this group include to:

- Promote, develop and support action on the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) across all relevant Government Departments, agencies and sectors; and

- Identify processes for engaging with networks of stakeholders.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the OPIOG held its inaugural meeting on the 19th of October last with further meetings to be arranged at agreed intervals for the purposes of providing oversight to the implementation of the national Obesity Policy & Action Plan (OPAP).

At its inaugural meeting, the OPOIG agreed to establish two sub-groups for Reformulation and Healthy Eating. The Healthy Eating sub-group, which includes the stakeholder Departments involved in publishing the Nutrition Standards for Food in Schools will meet later this month to discuss Terms of Reference and propose a Work Programme.

It is anticipated that the Healthy Eating sub-group of the OPIOG will include an action to elaborate on work aimed at promoting cross-sectoral action to support healthy eating for children and young people in various settings such as schools and colleges, the youth sector and the community. Rolling out the Nutrition Standards for School Meals to all primary and post primary schools will be discussed in this context.

Guidelines for Development of a Healthy Eating Policy in Post-Primary Schools are available from my Department and used by the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme in the HSE together with the revised Food Pyramid resources and the Nutrition Standards in School Meals with schools. This work will also be discussed in the context of the work programme agreed for the OPOIG Healthy Eating sub-group.

The Lifeskills survey falls under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills, who are supportive of the promotion of healthy lifestyles in schools and has issued circulars (51/2015 and Circular 0013/2016) to support and strengthen schools' efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health.

Much is being done already in the area of education on healthy lifestyles, both in terms of the curriculum delivery and in resourcing. The latter includes support from organisations or projects like An Bord Bia, Food Dudes, Incredible Edibles and Health Promoting Schools. Schools and the wider education sector in conjunction with parents and families have a crucial role to play in supporting students to make healthy choices. Actions to support this can be seen across the curriculum, through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. It is also an important component of Wellbeing, the new area of learning introduced to all first year students from September 2017, as part of the implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle. The work in schools to support healthy lifestyles complements the Government's Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025 - Healthy Ireland.