Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 6

Written Answers. - Breastfeeding Policy.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

169 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the allocation of £10,000 to an organisation (details supplied) in 1998 was adequate; if the association will be allocated all of the funding it has applied for in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10810/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I am very much aware of the tremendous contribution of the organisation, to which the Deputy refers, in promoting breastfeeding in this country. The health promotion unit of my Department has supported various projects on behalf of the organisation over the past number of years. My Department has recently received a request for funding. The request is being considered at present and a decision will be made shortly.

Following on from the publication of the national breastfeeding policy, my Department has been involved in various initiatives to encourage mothers to breastfeed, the most recent of which was the production of a breastfeeding educational pack for health professionals. This education pack was produced with the assistance of An Bord Altranais and the centre for health promotion studies in University College Galway and cost £110,000 over two years. In addition the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which is a global campaign led by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF to encourage hospitals and health workers to support mothers to breastfeed, has recently been established in Ireland. Participation in this initiative was recommended in the national breastfeeding policy for Ireland and I am confident that participation in this initiative will result in an increase in the incidence of breastfeeding in this country.