Vol. 467 No. 4
89 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health his commitment to promoting a national breast feeding policy; the resources provided in this regard; the grants, if any, that have been provided to promoting groups in the past two years; the reason the Eastern Health Board has no promotions officer in this area in view of the fact that other health boards have such officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13271/96]
The report of the National Committee to Promote Breastfeeding was published in 1994 and was widely disseminated by my Department. Since that time, my Department has been monitoring the implementation of initiatives to give effect to the recommendations made in the report. Funding will be made available by my Department this year for the development of breastfeeding information materials for health professionals in association with the Department of Health promotion studies at University College, Galway. My Department also plans the publication of a comprehensive booklet specifically on breastfeeding. In addition to these initiatives, funding in excess of £35,000 has been provided to other groups for the promotion of breastfeeding over the last two years. This funding does not include commitments not yet called down by agencies.
With regard to the Eastern Health Board, the position is that the board has been operating breastfeeding promotion programmes for a number of years, primarily through the public health nursing service as part of the community care programme.
