Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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769. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in workplaces within his Department and the workplaces of public bodies and agencies under his remit, including a list of said buildings which do and do not have these facilities [50343/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the HSE. National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, emphasises the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.

The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. The Department of Health works closely with the HSE National Breast-Feeding Co-ordinator, who has responsibility for the implementation of the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021.

Implementation of Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland – HSE Action Plan includes initiatives in the following areas:

- improve governance and health service structures;

- develop new breastfeeding training programmes;

- develop evidence-based policies and practices;

- communicate the importance of breastfeeding through social marketing, support and advocacy and;

- monitor and evaluate breastfeeding services.

The National Breastfeeding Implementation Group is partnering with key divisions to provide the supports that mothers require at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum.

In terms of supports for public service staff wishing to breastfeed following their return to work after maternity leave, a new Breastfeeding Policy for Staff working in the Public Health Service came into effect in February 2021.

The policy supports staff to continue to breastfeed on return to work following maternity leave. This policy is being implemented on a cost neutral basis and will allow employees to take 1-hour paid breastfeeding breaks up until their child’s second birthday, in line with WHO/DOH Infant Feeding recommendations.

The Department of Health operates a breastfeeding supportive workplace policy in compliance with Section 9 of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004. In line with this, the Department has one designated private room on its premises in Miesian Plaza, which provides appropriate comfortable seating, storage, refrigeration, washing and other facilities for those employees who are breastfeeding and/or expressing breast milk. Employees who wish to use the room for this purpose are provided with secure and private access to use the facility as and when required.

With respect to the HSE, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. I am engaging with the other Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department on this matter and will revert to the Deputy by separate letter once their responses are collated.