Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1295. To ask the Minister for Health the position in relation to A Healthy Weight for Ireland 2016–2025 Obesity Policy and Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22022/20]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland agenda. The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. The Plan recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. Childhood obesity is a key priority under the Policy, as is reducing the inequalities seen in obesity rates, where children (and adults) from lower socioeconomic groups have higher levels of obesity. The OPAP is based on the best available evidence in the Irish and international literature, and is informed by established international models and frameworks. Implementation of the Plan is overseen by a cross-sectoral and cross-Departmental Obesity Policy Implementation and Oversight Group chaired by the Department of Health.

Achievements under the OPAP to date include the introduction of a Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax in May 2018, the publication of new Healthy Eating Guidelines, Food Pyramid and supporting resources in 2017, and the development of new Nutrition Standards for Schools, with an initial focus on school meal programmes funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Evidence-based actions are being progressed under the Plan on a number of fronts, including the preparation of Healthy Eating Guidelines for 1 to 5 year-olds, and the finalisation of a Roadmap in relation to the reformulation of unhealthy food and drink. Both of these measures are expected to be introduced in the autumn. A Progress Report on the OPAP will be published in the coming weeks.

Obesity is a priority area for the new Government, as reflected in the Programme for Government, and for myself as Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. Work is underway for a meeting of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group to be held before the end of September to look at the policy context and to prepare to take this work forward in the months to come.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1296. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to A Healthy Weight for Ireland 2016–2025 Obesity Policy and Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22025/20]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland agenda. The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. The Plan recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part.

The first Progress Report on the OPAP will be published in the coming weeks. An evaluation of the OPAP is also being prepared by the Health Research Board Centre for Diet and Health Research, University College Cork, and this is expected to be published in the coming months. It is expected that the mid-term review of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan will commence in 2021.

In relation to the other matters referred to, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.