Skip to main content
Normal View

Departmental Strategies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (601, 602)

Holly Cairns

Question:

601. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25751/21]

View answer

Holly Cairns

Question:

602. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25769/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.

The Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 states the Department's commitment to work with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and relevant partners in order to achieve the relevant Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets as set out in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020.

Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan, 2018-2020, sets out the Government’s ambitious response to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commits Ireland to fully achieving all 17 of the Goals by 2030. This Department will continue to work with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and relevant partners in order to achieve the relevant SDG targets, with a focus on SDG3, Good Health and Wellbeing.

In late 2019, the Health and Wellbeing Unit in my Department commenced the development of a Strategic Action Plan for the next phase of the Healthy Ireland Framework.

A Rapid Review of progress to date on the implementation of Healthy Ireland was firstly conducted with the Health and Wellbeing Unit within the Department. The review was conducted against the existing six themes of the Framework, including:

1. Governance and Policy

2. Partnership and Cross-Sectoral Work

3. Empowering People and Communities

4. Health and Health Reform

5. Research and Evidence

6. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

Following the review, feedback on progress to date from the wider stakeholder consultation phase was incorporated.

An extensive stakeholder engagement process on the Healthy Ireland Framework was also conducted by my Department. This has included one-on-one interviews, workshops and an on-line survey, in addition to one-on-one interviews with key leaders. Workshops with stakeholder groups, including: other Government Departments, Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations, Department of Health staff, Health Services Executive staff and Academic institutions were held. An online survey was completed by 331 respondents from existing partner organisations, including Local Authorities.

The findings of the Review and stakeholder consultations have been incorporated into the development of the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, which was published on the 11th May, 2021, along with the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, 2021 - 2023.

The development of both Plans took into account the wider context, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Programme for Government, to ensure appropriate alignment with priorities across the whole of Government.

My Department has been taking part in meetings of the Sustainable Developments Goals Data Governance group, chaired by the Central Statistics Office.

The Department of Health ‘Women’s Health Taskforce’ was established in 2019 to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare, to meet commitments under the National Strategy for Women and Girls. The National Strategy for Women and Girls is a key structure through which Ireland progresses overall commitments under Sustainable Development ‘Goal 5: Achieve Gender equality and empower all women and girls’ .

A Schedule of Department of Health SDG responsibilities is included with this PQ response.

Table

Question No. 602 answered with Question No. 601.
Top
Share