Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cardiovascular Strategy.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

68 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings held by the cardiovascular strategy group since September 1999; the dates of the meetings in this regard; the topics under discussions; and if there were any new recommendations made by it since the publication of its detailed report. [18408/00]

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

119 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings held by the cardiovascular strategy group since September 1999; the dates of the meetings; the topics under discussion; and if there were any new recommendations made by it since the publication of its detailed report. [18400/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 119 together.

The cardiovascular health strategy group met on 20 occasions and presented its report, Building Healthier Hearts, to the Taoiseach in July 1999. This completed the work of the strategy group and therefore they have not met since.

However, as a measure of the Government's commitment to implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy report, structures were put in place at national, regional and local level to drive the implementation process forward. These structures include the establishment of a high level heart health task force, an expert advisory forum on cardiovascular health and an interdivisional working group within my Department. The heart health task force has met on two occasions, the advisory forum has met on four occasions and the inter-divisional working group meets on an ongoing basis. These structures are designed to ensure that all 211 recommendations contained in the strategy document are implemented in a planned and structured manner.