553. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the consideration and/or scoping of a health literacy initiative that is being undertaken to ensure better health outcomes for patients and enabling the future resourcing of novel drug therapies. [29476/26]

As the Deputy will be aware, good health literacy can ensure that patients better understand their health information, the options available for their healthcare and guidelines around taking their medication and thereby improving healthcare outcomes.

My Department has highlighted its commitment to health literacy through a number of strategies including through the Healthy Ireland Framework and Strategic Action Plan, the Women’s Health Action Plan and the Men’s Health Action Plan. My Department also seeks to promote awareness of the importance of health literacy within the Department and the wider health service through a number of initiatives including the establishment of a Health Literacy Liaison Group within the Department.

My Department is also supporting a number of projects to advance health literacy and works closely with SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority in the context of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) whole of Government strategy to support literacy and numeracy.