Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
208. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he plans to take to ensure there are no vending machines serving unhealthy food options in schools; the action he will take to ensure no schools are dependent upon income generated from vending machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10847/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is active in the area of promotion of health and wellbeing in schools. The issue of promoting healthy eating is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. The aim is to equip students with such skills and knowledge to enable them to make appropriate choices for healthy lifestyles. Schools are strongly encouraged to have a formal healthy eating policy that has been developed in consultation with students and parents. My Department issued a circular to all post primary schools in September 2015 on the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Post Primary Schools (circular number 0051/2015) and to all primary schools in February 2016 (circular number 0013/2016).
It is primarily a matter for the Management in each school to decide their policy in relation to the use of vending machines. Findings from the 2015 Lifeskills survey show that virtually every primary schools stated that they do not facilitate the sale of fizzy drinks, sweets and crisps in school, either through vending machines or a school shop. This is the same response as in 2012.
92% of primary schools reported that they had a healthy eating policy in place. This is similar to the level reported in 2012. 3% reported that they were in the process of developing a healthy eating policy, and 5% reported having no healthy eating policy in place.
Some 27% of Post Primary schools reported having a vending machine or school shop which sells ‘junk food’. (The Healthy Ireland Healthy Food for Life food pyramid defines this type of food as that which is high in fat, sugar and salt.) This represents an improvement on the position in 2012 when 30% of schools were in this category, and in 2009 when 35% of schools in this category. Some 74% of those schools that responded have a facility for the sale of fresh fruit. This is a significant improvement on the position reported in 2009 and 2012 when 64% of schools had such a facility in place.
