Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
949. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if his work with his Northern Ireland counterparts to develop an infant and young child feeding in emergencies preparedness plan for the island of Ireland will include consideration of establishing a breast milk bank in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14403/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that under the “Shared Island North South research programme” there is work going on to develop an infant and young child feeding in emergencies preparedness plan for the island of Ireland. This research is being led out by staff at Queen’s University Belfast and Technological University Dublin) and comes under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Department of Health has agreed with our colleagues in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland that the facilities of the Human Milk Bank in Co Fermanagh will continue to operate as usual and mothers in the Republic of Ireland can continue to provide breastmilk and avail of breastmilk supplies.
