We are delighted to have the opportunity to make a presentation to the committee. As the Chairman said, safefood is one of the six implementation bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement. Departmental responsibility for safefood rests with the two health Departments, the Department of Health and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Our headquarters are in Little Island in Cork and we have a sub-office in Dublin. We have an indicative budget of €8.5 million for 2012 which equates to £6.8 million. The Department of Health in Dublin provides 70% of the funding, with 30% coming from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. We have a permanent staffing level of 30.
safefood has no function in the regulatory aspects of food; that is left to the bodies in the two jurisdictions. Instead, we have a broad promotional role. Our key function is to promote food safety as a responsibility shared by the entire food chain - everybody from primary producers to consumers. The organisation is also charged with providing advice on nutrition. However, our promotion role goes beyond promoting just to the public. We promote, commission and fund research and we are responsible for ensuring protocols are in place to communicate food alerts, to advance the knowledge and surveillance of food-borne disease on the island and to promote scientific co-operation and laboratory linkages. We have a specific function for developing an all-island strategy for specialised laboratory services and a general remit to provide an independent science-based assessment of the food supply.
The governing legislation provides that the chief executive shall carry out the functions of the body under the direction of the NSMC, North-South Ministerial Council, and I am assisted in this duty by a 12-member advisory board of which Ms Lynn Ní Bhaoighealláin is the chairperson and a scientific advisory committee of 13 members.
We operate under four directorates, two scientific directorates, one of which deals with food science and the other with human health and nutrition; marketing and communications because communications is a key aspect of our role; corporate operations which supports the operational structure of the organisation.
The food environment continues to evolve, particularly as economic circumstances change. There is an increasing recognition of the need to assist those who are prevented from making healthy choices as a result of low income. The incidence of food-borne disease continues and its impact represents a significant economic cost. Obesity is a significant public health challenge with two out of three adults on the island being overweight or obese, despite public campaigns to educate consumers over the years and additional efforts by industry to provide healthier options through a reduction in fat and salt levels.
This leads to a significantly increased risk of stroke, diabetes and heart disease and results in considerable health costs. It is estimated that up to 2,000 individuals die prematurely every year on the island as a result of weight-related conditions. One in four children starting school is overweight and the average 14-year old boy is three stone heavier than his grandfather at the same age. In addition to these factors, there have been significant changes in the world of communications. Traditional methods of communication such as television and radio advertising are losing ground as consumers take charge by choosing what they wish to view and how they view it. There is no longer a static audience. New media opportunities are constantly emerging, such as Twitter, Facebook, discussion boards and so on.
Our strategy has been to empower individuals to make healthy and safe food choices by delivering messages that move consumers towards improved personal food safety and healthy eating and to disseminate knowledge and information in a way that is relevant, practical and fit for purpose. This is supported by robust research. We aim to influence the food environment, to provide support for consumers who are ready to modify their behaviour through workplace initiatives, community food initiatives, interface with industry and so on. We aim to deliver a programme to stakeholders to maximise understanding and engagement. We seek to support communities, including socially and economically disadvantaged communities, to help them achieve better health outcomes and to fulfil our remit in the context of value for money which is a key component of all our activities. Details of some of these activities have been circulated to members.
The health departments on both sides have advised us that Ministers have now agreed that full and final consideration of our 2012 business plan awaits the completion of separate reviews which are taking place in the two jurisdictions. The Northern Ireland review is due to be completed by the end of June and we are advised that the review in this jurisdiction is due to be completed soon afterwards.
This concludes my presentation and I am happy to deal with any questions from members.