Over 4,000 submissions on Healthy Ireland framework

Over 4,000 submissions were made during the public consultation for the next Healthy Ireland framework, according to the Department of Health. This figure included almost 100 submissions by groups.

The new Healthy Ireland framework is currently being developed in the Department. The previous document covered the years 2013 to 2025.

“The [new] framework development is being led by the health and wellbeing unit in the Department of Health, with input from an expert advisory group,” a Department spokesperson told the Medical Independent. The advisory group is chaired by Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Prof Phillip Dodd.

The Department did not provide any further details on when the framework would be completed or if it would have a different structure to its predecessor.

In May, Chief Medical Officer Prof Mary Horgan said the framework was “to be launched later this year”. Prof Horgan was speaking at the Future Health Summit in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. She added that it was the first newly developed framework since 2013. Therefore, it represented “a huge opportunity” for health intervention across peoples’ lifespans “and also across all sectors of society”.

The Healthy Ireland Framework 2013–2025 was described as a roadmap for building a healthier Ireland. It was based around four key goals: Increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life; reduce health inequalities; protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing; and create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland.

Last month, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, told the Dáil she wanted to ensure that “the importance of promoting good health and wellbeing for our LGBT+ community is acknowledged” in the new framework.