Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2024
322. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether he has received reports on the evolution of the indicators in the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework instituted in 2018 to date; and whether the impact of Covid and the return to more normal conditions illustrates challenges for public policy in this area. [13530/24]
View answerThe Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework underpins and collates data for key wellbeing indicators. These indicators form a core evidence base that informs implementation of the Healthy Ireland Framework 2013-2025, and the subsequent Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, 2021-2025.
The Outcomes Framework is based on a conceptual model for health and wellbeing which incorporates health status, health outcomes and determinants of health and wellbeing across the life course. It acknowledges the interdependencies between what we are trying to achieve in health and other policy areas, such as education, employment, transport, environment, planning and social protection, where there are significant shared agendas.
The range of indicators work together to create an overall picture of national and societal health and wellbeing, and to inform ongoing policy in this area.
The original Outcomes Framework was published in late 2018; the initial indicator set was later augmented with an additional set of indicators which were published as part of the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan in 2021. The first Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework report was published in late 2022 and can be viewed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/030396-healthy-ireland-outcomes-framework/.
The Department will commence work on another Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework report this year; this will be published in due course. The Healthy Ireland team are also working with colleagues across the Department to support and inform the Health System Performance Assessment Framework, which is available online and provides a wide range of health metrics. www.hspa.gov.ie/.
We are represented on the inter-Departmental Group, overseeing the Government Well-Being Framework, which is led by the Departments of the Taoiseach and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The Well-being Framework for Ireland is available at the following link; www.gov.ie/en/publication/b2e0f-understanding-life-in-ireland-the-well-being-framework-2023/ .
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been captured to some extent by the first Outcomes Framework Report. There are also more detailed data sources available; for example, the Healthy Ireland Survey, which is published annually. Healthy Ireland also supports the Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children Study.
The 2021-2023 Healthy Ireland Survey reports are available on the Healthy Ireland website and capture many of the main impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children Report will be published on April 10th, 2024.
Future content of the Healthy Ireland Survey is revised each year, and a new Questionnaire developed, by an expert Advisory Group. Some of the possible impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and other significant events, such as the cost-of-living crisis, have been captured by recent Surveys, following input to the Advisory Group and Questionnaire by policy experts.
The indicator suite for the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework is kept under regular review; consideration will be given to extending and revising this as part of forthcoming work, over the next 2 years or so, to renew the Healthy Ireland Framework and Strategic Action Plan. This will commence within the next year.
