Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 June 2014
41. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress achieved since the launch of the Healthy Ireland strategy last year on each of the recommendations contained therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27008/14]
View answerHealthy Ireland, the Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025, is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the country. Since the publication of Healthy Ireland, efforts have mainly focussed on activity related to stakeholder engagement, leadership, communications and building a supportive environment. Activities already undertaken include meetings, presentations and discussions with a number of key Government Departments, the four HSE Regional Health Fora, local authorities, political representatives, health professional organisations and colleges, educational institutions, health NGOs and patient advocacy organisations, multinational and other private sector businesses and employers. The implementation of Healthy Ireland is a standing item on the agendas of the Senior Officials’ Group on Social Policy and is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy.
In addition, a range of other activities are being progressed including the following:
- A high-level cross-sectoral group, including representatives from Government Departments and other key agencies has been established to provide strategic direction and to monitor the implementation of the Healthy Ireland Framework.
- A Health and Wellbeing Division has been established in the HSE to deliver the health services aspects of health and wellbeing. The development of a health services 3-year implementation plan for Healthy Ireland is a priority action identified in the HSE National Service Plan 2014.
- A Research, Data and Innovation Plan is in development which will set out a strategic approach to support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the HI Framework and work is underway to develop an Outcomes Framework to provide evidence to support an objective assessment of the impacts of Healthy Ireland.
- My Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport are co-chairing a working group which is developing a National Physical Activity Plan. It is anticipated that a draft document will be circulated for consultation shortly.
- A campaign titled “Let’s Take on Childhood Obesity, One Step at a Time”, developed in partnership between Safefood, the HSE and my Department was launched in October 2013 is continuing throughout 2014 with the purpose of communicating practical solutions for parents to adopt in order to tackle the everyday habits associated with excess weight in childhood.
- A Healthy Ireland Survey will commence in 2014. The survey will report on key indicators of lifestyle factors such as level of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, sexual health and wellbeing.
- Work has commenced on supporting improved child health and wellbeing in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills and the other partners in the education sector. To build on the recent progress in partnering in the launch of Active Schools Week and the Active Schools Flag initiative, work has commenced on ensuring a co-ordinated cross-sectoral approach to support schools and teachers in improving child health and wellbeing across all topics (nutrition, physical activity, SPHE, mental health etc) and in developing and putting in place a co-ordinated support infrastructure involving the HSE.
- Following engagement with the local government sector, health and wellbeing has been identified as a key pillar in the economic and community planning process being undertaken in the new Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in Local Authorities.
- I have recently appointed members to the Healthy Ireland Council which is a key initiative to leverage engagement with whole-of-society and to connect and mobilise communities, families and individuals into a national movement with the aim of supporting everyone to enjoy the best possible health and wellbeing.
- I will bring a memo to Government in the near future seeking approval for the publication of a Sexual Health Strategy.The aims of the strategy are to improve sexual health and wellbeing and to reduce negative sexual health outcomes. This is the first nationally developed sexual health and wellbeing strategy.
