Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
852. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the expenditure for the Healthy Ireland office in each year since its establishment; the cost of information campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18027/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health and Wellbeing Programme in my Department is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of Healthy Ireland which is the National Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025. The Programme works closely with the HSE, other Government Departments and a range of partners to deliver a number of strategies and plans across a range of health and wellbeing issues.
In July 2018, the Government approved a number of measures to strengthen the Healthy Ireland Programme and support strengthened cross-Government collaboration on the implementation of Healthy Ireland and build on the progress to date, including a decision to establish an expanded Healthy Ireland Office in the Department of Health. Progressing these decisions is being considered by the Department in the context of Sláintecare implementation and the overall approach to improve public health and wellbeing outcomes.
Since the publication of Healthy Ireland in 2013 the expenditure of my Department on Healthy Ireland per year is as follows:
2013 €89,000;
2014 €586,000;
2015 €607,000;
2016 €1,156,000;
2017 €5,997,000;
2018 €5,587,000;
2019 €7,498,000;
It is important to note that expenditure increased significantly in 2017 upon the establishment of the Healthy Ireland Fund. In addition to the Healthy Ireland Fund, expenditure is used for a number of initiatives, including the Healthy Ireland Survey.
A national Healthy Ireland Communications and Citizen Engagement campaign has been running since 2018, aimed at raising public awareness of the gov.ie website as the place to go for trusted sources of information and supports under three key themes – healthy eating, physical activity and mental wellbeing. The cost of Healthy Ireland information campaigns in 2019 was €957,000 and €658,000 in 2018.
