Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
660. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if his Department has examined studies which identify significant advantages for babies if they are breastfed; his plans to initiate a campaign which would promote same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43546/21]
View answerPrior to the development of the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland- Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021, my Department commissioned the Health Research Board to carry out two pieces of research to help provide an evidence base for actions that would favourably promote an increase in breastfeeding levels in Ireland. These reports were 'A review of practices that increase breast feeding - an evidence brief' and 'Interventions that promote increased breastfeeding rates and increased duration of breastfeeding among women'.
These research reports emphasised the importance of Improved Health Service Structures and actions to improve these structures are outlined in the Breastfeeding Action Plan.
This year as part of this implementation of the Slaintecare Healthy Living Pillar, Healthy Ireland is making a significant investment towards giving children the best start in life through facilitating the implementation of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. Ireland has a culture of bottle feeding and, in order to improve child and maternal health, as well as reductions in childhood obesity and chronic diseases, we need to improve our breastfeeding rates. In May I announced funding of €1.58m to provide the additional 24 Lactation Consultants across hospital and community settings, that are required to ensure timely skilled assistance for mothers who wish to breastfeed and support enhanced training, skills and knowledge to frontline staff.
With regard to campaigns the HSE have an annual National Breastfeeding Week. This year the National Breastfeeding Week is 1-7th October and the theme is 'Feeding the future: supporting breastfeeding through a pandemic and beyond'.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of some actions, the HSE will extend the implementation of the Breastfeeding Action Plan into 2022 and continue to work on priority outstanding actions.
