Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
1066. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health her views on whether her Department is considering expanding funding for Level 2 obesity services under the HSE’s obesity model of care; if this will be considered in the upcoming National Obesity Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14941/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025).
OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and the overall aim is to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications, and reduce the impact of overweight and obesity on health outcomes for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. It recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. OPAP is well aligned with the World Health Organisation in terms of the breadth of policy measures that have been introduced or are being considered in order to address the obesity epidemic.
Under OPAP, Ireland put in place a comprehensive, cross-Government strategy to address obesity and overweight. Since 2016 significant progress has been made in delivering on the Ten Step Programme of OPAP and to drive policy initiatives and actions, ranging from health promotion and education initiatives and obesity prevention measures through to establishing services to treat and manage obesity within the health care system.
In 2021, Sláintecare Healthy Ireland in the Department of Health, working with the HSE and local authorities and community agencies, launched the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme to provide increased health and wellbeing services in 24 community areas across Ireland. This Programme employs a Community Food & Nutrition worker in each of the communities that have been identified as disadvantaged, who work to improve community health and wellbeing in the community areas by addressing the issues of poor diet and food poverty.
The Department also provides funding to support the Integration of Childhood Obesity Services in Primary Care through an Education programme that is delivered by a multidisciplinary team in Children’s Health Ireland. The Programme facilitates development of a network of health professionals around the country who are trained in line with the international recommendations and are committed to the delivery of evidence-based treatment for child and adolescent obesity.
Under OPAP, funding has been provided for numerous initiatives and programmes aimed at implementing the actions set out in OPAP. The Department of Health has also committed to funding the HSE Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity, which sets out how the healthcare for children, young people and adults living with overweight and obesity in Ireland should be organised and resourced now and in the future. In Budget 2025, additional funding was secured to complete Phase 1 of the HSE model of care. The Department will continue to fund the Model of Care as part of the new obesity strategy being developed, and consideration for any potential further funding or expansion of the Model of Care will be considered during the drafting of the strategy.
The Department began the process of developing a successor strategy at the beginning of 2025. Over the course of the year, the Department worked alongside a strategic consultancy to facilitate stakeholder engagement for the development of a new obesity strategy. This included stakeholder workshops, focus groups and hosting an online public consultation. The public consultation was an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholder groups and organisations to share their experience, observations and proposals for a new obesity policy for Ireland. Following on from the closing of the consultation, and a strategy consultation document summarising the main themes of the responses to the consultation was submitted to the Department for consideration. This strategy consultation document will be used to help inform the development of the new national obesity strategy, which will be published in 2026.
