Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1197. To ask the Minister for Health what funding streams are available for community parent support groups and breastfeeding groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44874/24]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, 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. The Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, emphasise the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.

The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021 is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. A HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan Implementation Group was established to oversee delivery of the plan, and a national breastfeeding Co-Ordinator was appointed as lead. The Department of Health works closely with the HSE National Breast-Feeding Co-ordinator in the implementation of HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021, which has been extended out to 2025.

In 2021, Minister Donnelly announced additional funding to the HSE of €1.58 million to fund 24 additional lactation consultants to support more new mothers in maternity and primary care settings to breastfeed their infants. There are currently 59.1 WTE dedicated lactation posts employed in the HSE (34.5 maternity, 23.6 primary care and 1 in Children’s Health Ireland).

In the 2025 Budget, funding for an additional five lactation consultant posts was announced by the Minister of State, Colm Burke. These posts will be allocated based on the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan Progress report.

The 2022 Women's Health Action Plan and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 called for a coordinated approach to support postnatal women and new babies in the community. The National Maternity Experience Survey showed that improving postnatal care is a priority for women. Since 2022, significant investment has been directed into piloting and establishing a national network of Postnatal Hubs. Five Hubs are already running in Cork, Kerry, Portiuncula, Sligo and Carlow-Kilkenny, with four more currently in development. This Government is investing an additional €2.0 million in the National Maternity Strategy in Budget 2025, which includes €0.9 million to open four further Postnatal Hubs. This will bring the national network to 13. These Hubs provide essential care for women in the community in the weeks after birth.

Breastfeeding support groups were restricted from meeting in person during the Covid-19 pandemic, but many are back operating as in person support groups. Voluntary organisations offer breastfeeding support groups in addition to the HSE. There are over 220 breastfeeding supports nationwide available in every county and the number is increasing. The vast majority of support groups meet in person, but online options are available to individuals where in-person groups are not accessible.

Community Families is a community home visiting programme that puts parents first, empowering them through trusted relationships with a Home Visitor. It provides information and support, and it builds friendships and connectivity in local communities. Funding was secured from the Sláintecare Integration Fund and from a private donor, to undertake a development project. From early 2020 until late 2021, this development project was undertaken leading to the creation of Community Families, the name chosen for the Standardised National Programme. There are seven sites currently transitioning to the Community Families model of home visiting, with plans for expansion to further Community Health Network Areas as funding allows.

Other supports are available through the HSE’s online breastfeeding support service, through the ‘Ask our breastfeeding expert’ service on www.mychild.ie. The service was established in 2014 and is provided by a team of lactation consultants. It is available seven days a week with the live chat service available Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.

The HSE has developed a comprehensive suite of communication and health promotion resources to support breastfeeding. It provides evidenced based impartial information and support for feeding options in infants and young children on the mychild.ie website and through social media channels. Resources are available for parents to-be and new parents, including print and online information. Breastfeeding information is integrated into all mychild publications and there are a number of specific breastfeeding publications available.

I trust this reply provides an overview of the many supports that are available to support breastfeeding.