Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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783. To ask the Minister for Health if she will implement a plan to encourage the establishment of mothers’ talking groups outside of existing services to provide a forum for new mothers to build new support networks; particularly for mothers who are unable or do not wish to breastfeed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27643/25]

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 as breastmilk provides the optimum nutrition for infants. The Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, all emphasise the importance of taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland, including through providing mothers with the right help and support to breastfeed successfully for as long as possible. The existing network of breastfeeding support groups provides this support to breastfeeding mothers.

While supporting mothers to breastfeed is a priority, we do recognise that there are mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed their babies. There is a range of supports available to all mothers.

In Ireland, every child gets free health and development checks from 0 to 5 years. This is to make sure they are healthy and developing normally. Checks happen with a healthcare professional, either with the Public Health Nurse, GP practice nurse or GP, normally at home or at the local health centre. All checks are free of charge and provided by the HSE.

All mothers of newborns receive a home visit from the Public Health Nurse within the first week after birth, usually in the first three days. This visit and subsequent health checks can be used to ask the Public Health Nurse any questions or talk about any concerns that the new parent might have. Public Health Nurses provide advice on infant feeding to parents.

There are no plans at present to establish a network of support groups for mothers who cannot or do not wish to breastfeed similar to the existing breastfeeding support groups. However, in addition to the core developmental checks provided by the Public Health Nurse, there are a range of other supports that can provide a forum for parents to discuss their concerns. These may include informal community parent groups or more structured supports such as a home visiting programme. Public Health Nurses will often signpost to such resources during their visits.

There is also a suite of resources available to new parents online on the HSE MyChild.ie website which provides trusted information from healthcare experts. MyChild.ie website provides information and support services which support new parents’ physical and mental health, pregnancy and birth services and parenting advice on caring for babies and young children.

I trust this reply is of assistance.