Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
613. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the actions that he has taken since taking office to ensure progress in reaching the objectives of the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48088/22]
View answerAs part of Sláintecare’s Healthy Living pillar, “A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 Healthy Ireland has committed to implement the Ten Steps Forward. These Steps engage and co-ordinate multi-sectoral action to help reduce obesity and commit to investment in additional resources in acute and primary care settings together with enhanced training, provision of supports to mothers and social marketing.
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. To support this goal, I announced funding of €1.54m in 2021 to provide the additional 23.5 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.
As this is also a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
