194. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development and implementation of the updated National Breastfeeding Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27965/26]

Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the HSE. Breastfeeding as a public health measure is protective against Non - Communicable Diseases and is the optimum nutrition for infants.

There has been considerable progress under the HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland 2016-2025 Action Plan, resulting in a modest 7% increase in breastfeeding rates. However, further cultural and societal change is required to support breastfeeding in Ireland.

In 2025, the Department of Health formed a breastfeeding steering group to research and design the development of a new whole of government breastfeeding strategy.

Over the last year, the Department of Health has engaged with multiple stakeholders and across government, to inform how the new strategy will be designed.

The Department has engaged an independent reviewer to oversee the consultation process to assist in the development of a new national breastfeeding strategy.

A large multistakeholder event was held in November 2025, followed by specific focus groups in January 2026. A final workshop focusing on stakeholder implementation was hosted by the department in February. The independent reviewer is currently drafting the consultation report, which will be submitted to the department imminently.

The Department intends to build on the positive impact of the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan up to 2025, by taking a whole of government approach to the new Breastfeeding strategy, which is expected to be published later this year.