COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, April 10, 2017
QUESTION NO.6
QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle
To ask the Chief Executive for a detailed report on the Healthy County Initiative?
REPLY:
Healthy Ireland (HI) A framework for improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025 was launched in March 2013. It is the National Framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the Country over the coming generation. Healthy Ireland takes a “whole of government'" and “whole of society" approach to tackling the major lifestyle issues which lead to negative health outcomes. The framework aims to shift the focus to prevention, seeks to reduce health inequalities, and emphasises the need to empower people and communities to better look after their own health and wellbeing.
The vision of Healthy Ireland is an Ireland where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential, where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyone’s responsibility. http://www.healthyireland.ie/
Here in South Dublin County an inter-agency group chaired by the Director for Housing Social and Community Development was established in 2015 and began the process of becoming a member of the National Network of Healthy City/Counties, Ireland in tandem with research and promoting activity in the County.
The group identified three thematic areas of work in the County to prioritise,
- Physical Activity and the local implementation of the National Physical Activity Plan,
- Alcohol Misuse including the delivery of the National Community Action on Alcohol Programme (CAAP)
- Smoking Cessation through the roll out of the Irish Cancer Society’s “We Can Quit Programme”.
Work under each theme is underway mainly on the Smoking Cessation with the 2nd programme underway following the hugely successful pilot, worked in tandem with the Tallaght Drugs Task Force on their strategy and piloting two projects on Activity within organisations and businesses and Community. Both of these projects will be evaluated by Trinity Research.
In November last year, the County was successful in becoming an accredited member of the National Healthy City/Counties of Ireland Network and won the National Chamber Ireland Award in the Health & Wellbeing Category.
Health and Wellbeing is a pillar in the Council’s Corporate Plan and for the past four years, the Council has organised a Health and Wellbeing week. This is where we showcase many of the Health Initiatives going on around the County. Local Community groups are funded/facilitated to host a range of activities that promote a healthy lifestyle for our residents. These initiatives range from an opportunity to try out a new activity to engaging in an ongoing course that will assist with changing lifestyle behaviour. Planning is underway for Health and Wellbeing Week 2017 which begins on 18 September 2017. The Steering group also works closely with the Local Sports Partnership and Sports and Recreation Office on providing a range of activity opportunities for all ages and capabilities.