Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

465 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the grants available in crèches, pre-schools or junior schools to employ the services of an exercise or fitness teacher in view of growing obesity problems. [31211/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

There are no grants available to crèches, pre-schools to employ the services of an exercise or fitness teacher. Health boards provide some financial support to certain pre-school services, which cater for children who are regarded as being at risk or disadvantaged. This function is in keeping with the health boards overall responsibility under the Child Care Act 1991 in regard to the promotion of welfare of children and the provision of family welfare services.

Under the equal opportunities child care programme the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform provides staffing grants towards the cost of child care staff in community not-for-profit pre-school services.

However, the Department of Health and Children has identified school children as one of the groups that should be given priority during the planning and delivery of programmes and initiatives for good health throughout life. In the Government's National Health Promotion Strategy 2000-2005, there is a focus on two major objectives for children as follows: to promote healthy eating and a healthy body image among schoolgoing children and young people; to facilitate the implementation of health education and health promotion programmes, in partnership with the Department of Education and Science in the implementation of social, personal and health education in all schools consistent with the health promoting schools concept.

Eating habits throughout life are established at a young age. Therefore, learning to choose and enjoy different foods in childhood provides the foundation for healthy food choices in adulthood. The purposes of targeting primary schools are as follows. The primary school setting provides an excellent health promotion arena for reaching large sections of the population – children, teachers, families and the surrounding community – in an effective and efficient way. Schools, through the SPHE, provide opportunities to promote lifelong healthy eating as well as encouraging physical activity. SPHE aims to create a healthy ethos within the school and improve children's self esteem and well-being. Teachers play a valuable role in communicating and supporting the healthy eating message, especially through the adoption of a whole school approach to healthy eating. Within a health promoting school consistent messages about healthy eating are communicated through all aspects of school life – the classroom, the curriculum, school breaks, school lunches and physical activity.

Food and nutrition guidelines for primary schools will be published shortly the aim of which will be to educate children on nutrition and enable them to make healthy food choices throughout life. This document will become part of the SPHE programme together with a physical activity programme to be introduced as part of the school curriculum.