Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Minister for Health for a status update on development of the national breastfeeding strategy, the progress and plans for the launch of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54315/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health (DOH) and for the HSE. 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 supporting mothers who 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 coordinator was appointed as lead. The Department of Health works closely with the HSE National Breastfeeding coordinator in the implementation of HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021, which was extended out to 2025.

As indicated in the Programme for Government 2025 "Securing Ireland's Future" the Department of Health intends to build on the work of the HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan through the development of a new "whole of Government" strategy and remains committed to increasing breastfeeding supports to all mothers and families in Ireland.

A Breastfeeding steering group has been established to research and design the development of a whole of government breastfeeding policy. This group is made up of colleagues from the Department of Health, HSE, IPH and other experts in this field.

The Department of Health has held bilateral meetings with many other government departments over the last three months, to discuss their role in supporting the new strategy. A research group has been convened to examine national and international best practice to inform strategy development and will be consulted with throughout the process. The Department has recently selected an independent strategy company to oversee the consultation process and stakeholder engagement and this process is expected to take up to eight months.

It is envisioned that a new Breastfeeding strategy will be published in 2026.