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Childhood Obesity

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Questions (909)

Carol Nolan

Question:

909. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the actions that have been undertaken by his Department on foot of the recommendations of the Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1043/21]

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Written answers

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity followed ten days of hearings from stakeholders, including a number of Government Departments, and the receipt of a number of written submissions.  The Report contained 20 recommendations for action under a number of headings and was published in October 2018. 

The principal policy instrument for combatting obesity in Ireland is ‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016 under the Healthy Ireland Framework.  The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy.  The Plan is a whole-of-government, cross-sectoral plan and recognises that obesity is a complex, multifaceted problem which needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part.  The recommendations in the Joint Oireachtas Committee report are broadly aligned with the actions in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan. 

Work has been progressing on a number of fronts in relation to the areas covered in the recommendations of the Joint Committee Report and the actions in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan.  For example, the HSE is developing an end-to-end Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Prevention and Treatment Model in line with Sláintecare. The Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration has requested an update on the recommendations of the Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity, and it is expected that a comprehensive update will issue shortly. 

Obesity, and in particular childhood obesity, is a priority area for the Government, as reflected in the Programme for Government, "Our Shared Future".  It is also a high priority of mine in my capacity as Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.  Funding has been provided in Budget 2021 with a particular focus on developing healthy communities by addressing health and well-being in areas of deprivation and details are currently being progressed with a range of stakeholders. This approach will take into a range of factors that impact health and well-being as part  of a whole- systems approach, and child obesity will be an important element of this.

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