Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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788. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place under the obesity policy implementation oversight group to progress action 1.8 of the obesity policy and action plan; if a timeline will be developed for progressing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8393/21]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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789. To ask the Minister for Health the evidence aside from that on the impact of the sugar sweetened tax that has been or will be reviewed on the effectiveness on the implementation for fiscal measures on HFSS products to reduce their consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8394/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 788 and 789 together.

The Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax was introduced on 1 May 2018. This followed a comprehensive preparation process including the publication of an internal working paper to inform consideration of a sugar sweetened drinks levy from a health perspective, and an extensive consultation process.

Any further introduction of fiscal measures in relation to foods high in fat, sugar and salt, or indeed to encourage healthy eating and lifestyles more broadly, will likewise require a strong evidence base and preparation process. The evaluation currently underway of the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax will also inform this process, in terms of what may be learned about the efficacy of the tax and the applicability of similar measures to other food products.

The Obesity Policy and Action Plan is due to be reviewed in 2021, to refresh the Plan for the remaining years of its lifetime, and the issue of the introduction of additional evidence-based fiscal measures of this nature will be further considered as part of this process.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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790. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the next steps being taken by the physical activity group and obesity policy implementation oversight group following the November 2018 stakeholder forum on the built environment undertaken as part of action 2.1 of the obesity plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8395/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Connect, Collaborate, Create; Co-Designing Healthier Communities, A Healthy Ireland Stakeholder Forum on the Built Environment, was held on November 21st 2018, in the National Indoor Arena. The Forum was managed by the Departments of Health, Transport Tourism and Sport (DTTAS, now DTCAGSM) and Housing Planning and Local Government (now DHLGH) and Sport Ireland.

Both the National Physical Activity Plan Implementation Group (NPAP IG) and the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) were represented at the Forum, which brought together those with responsibility for planning and developing public spaces with those who have expertise regarding the impacts of the built and natural environments on health and well-being, sport and physical activity, obesity and mental health, with the objective of examining how our physical environment can impact on health and well-being.

Progress has been made in a variety of different areas since the Forum was held, as detailed below, and it is envisaged that this progress will continue.

- A number of meetings, involving representatives of DHealth, DTTAS and DHPLG were held, following the Forum in 2018, to discuss the outcomes and the best ways of progressing these.

- The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, originally published in 2013, was updated in 2019, accompanied by additional advice and a new website,

- Implementation of the objectives of the NPF is supported by a €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development fund (URDF) in the period to 2027. There were 87 successful applications supported in Round 1 of the Fund.

- The Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways was launched in 2018, with work advancing on a number of greenway projects since then

- An inter-Departmental Advisory Group, Town Centre First, was established by DHLGH in late 2020; the NPAP Implementation Group is represented by the Department of Health co-Chair.

- The Department of Rural and Community Development approved funding of €10.2 million for 153 projects under the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme towards the development of trails, walkways, cycleways, greenways, blueways and mountain access routes.

- Sport Ireland supported the development of Blueways (recreation on or near water) in RoI and NI, through the Blueway Partnership in 2019

- Sport Ireland carried out 247 walking and cycling trail assessments and inspections in 2019, and also delivered 7 training courses aimed at supporting the development of walking and cycling infrastructure countrywide;

- Sport Ireland published a number of guidelines in 2019, including the Great Outdoors – An Accessibility Guideline for Outdoor Areas in collaboration with the Irish Wheelchair Association and CARA, and the revised and updated Criteria for Walking Trail Development in Ireland in 2019.

Further progress in this area will be pursued in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government, and through the reviews of the National Physical Activity Plan and the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, both of which are scheduled for 2021.