Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1906. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 841 of 5 July 2022, if he will provide an update on the evaluation of the sugar-sweetened drinks tax in Ireland; the current stage of the evaluation; when it will be finished and published; the names of the researchers with whom the Department is working; the resources required for the evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43597/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax was introduced in 2018 and has now been in operation for more than four years. The introduction of the tax was an important action in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, with the aim of combatting obesity through reducing consumption of added sugar in drinks and encouraging reformulation of products by the drinks industry.
Initial indications are that the tax has had a positive impact, particularly in terms of encouraging drinks producers to reduce the sugar content in their products. A more comprehensive analysis of the effects of the tax is needed, and the Department has commenced an evaluation of the measure.
The first step in this process was to look at existing examples that could inform the methodology to assess the impacts of the tax. This literature review and data scoping exercise enabled the Department to make an assessment of the potential approaches to evaluate the impact of the tax and the timelines and resources required for the evaluation. The Department has developed links with researchers who are working on projects relevant to the evaluation topic, which has impacted upon the nature and timeline of the work. Additional data sources are also being considered. The timelines for completing the evaluation are currently under review.
