Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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796. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the financial supports being made annually to support breastfeeding in hospitals; if he will provide information on the financial supports being made annually to support breastfeeding in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24496/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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797. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the HSE business case put forward in respect of breastfeeding supports, including but not limited to lactation consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24497/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority for the Department of Health. National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, 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.

It is important that children get the best possible start in life, and this is something all Government partners have prioritised in the Programme for Government.

The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. Since its publication, the Department of Health has funded the HSE to establish the role of National Breastfeeding co-ordinator. The National Breastfeeding Implementation Group partner with the Department of Health and key divisions within the HSE to progress a range of actions.

Following detailed engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to identify additional service needs, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, TD announced additional funding to the HSE of €1.58 million to fund 24 additional Lactation Consultants in May 2021, thereby providing support to every maternity unit in the country.

Currently 54 staff are in Infant feeding/lactation positions, with 35.5 working in maternity services and 18.5 in primary care. There are an additional four posts that are actively being recruited.

The HSE provide and fund voluntary breastfeeding organisations to provide community- based supports throughout the country. There are approximately 110 breastfeeding services available nationwide. The mychild.ie website is an online resource designed by practitioners within the HSE, which provides information to parents-to-be and parents of young children. The mychild.ie website covers pregnancy, labour and birth, babies and toddlers and provides material on every aspect of breastfeeding.