Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
743. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health given that the obesity policy and action plan covers the period 2016 to 2025, the policy or framework that will succeed it from 2026; whether such successor policy has been adopted; and the date of its publication. [50983/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra744. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to previous parliamentary questions on national targets for reducing obesity-attributable type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease incidence, whether the next obesity policy and action plan will contain the measurable targets for reducing the incidence of obesity-attributable type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as distinct from population overweight and obesity prevalence targets; whether her Department holds, or can access, national incidence data for obesity-attributable type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease sufficient to set a baseline against which such targets could be measured; the status of the prevalence targets contained in the 2016 plan (details supplied) including whether either was achieved; and given that both the 2016 plan and the healthy Ireland framework expired in 2025, the precise publication date for the successor plan and the policy basis on which obesity is being addressed in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50989/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question No 743 and Question No 744 together.
The 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.
Findings from the Healthy Ireland Surveys and the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) show that while the targets of a 0.5% per annum reduction in excess weight and a 10% reduction in the obesity gap between the highest and lowest socioeconomic groups, has not been achieved, levels of reported excess weight and the gap in levels of obesity between socioeconomic groups have remained stable since the introduction of these targets. It is important to note that the methodology for collecting data for Healthy Ireland Surveys changed in 2022 to self-reporting, due to the impact of Covid.
The Department does not have access to data relating to obesity-attributable type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The new OPAP is currently in development and is expected to be completed and published by the end of this year. The development of national targets will be considered as part of the deliberation process for actions within the next version of OPAP. It is expected that the next OPAP will be published by Q4 2026.
