asked the Minister for Health if he has any proposals by way of a national plan to reduce the level of heart disease.
Written Answers. - Heart Disease.
197.
The Kilkenny Health Project is a pilot programme set up in 1985 with the objective of testing community based approaches to the prevention of heart disease. The project is supported financially by my Department, the Health Research Board and the Irish Heart Foundation. The programme will run for a further two years and, following an assessment of its outcome, a decision will be taken on its application to other parts of the country.
The Health Promotion Unit in my Department is currently discussing with the Irish Heart Foundation and Irish Cancer Society the possibility of jointly developing a healthy lifestyles programme which would include modules on diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol and management of stress, each of which is relevant to the prevention of heart disease as well as other preventable illness.
Smoking is one of the known major contributors to heart disease. The Deputy will be aware of the recent legislative developments in this context and my intention under the new Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act to introduce regulations which will ban or restrict smoking in specified public places. In parallel with the introduction of the new regulations, my Department will be launching a renewed public education campaign on the health risks associated with smoking.