Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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632. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the review and revision of Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland: the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 – 2021; if a new plan will be developed for the period from 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14771/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to promote an increase in the number of new mothers breastfeeding. The Department of Health and the HSE have prioritised supports for breastfeeding in 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.

The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021 is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of some actions, the HSE extended the implementation of the Breastfeeding Action Plan until the end of 2023 and continue to work on priority outstanding actions. A review of progress against the plan will be carried out in 2023 to inform future planning and priorities

The Department of Health will continue to work with the HSE National Breastfeeding Co-ordinator, the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group and other key stakeholders to ensure that policy and strategy will provide support to mothers who breastfeed and improve breastfeeding rates in Ireland.