1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual funding provided to the Institute of Public Health in each of the past five years; and the specific programmes or outputs this funding was intended to support. [29856/26]

The All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department.  This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement in 1998.  The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.

The total annual funding to the IPH provided by the Department in each of the past five years is:

The specific outputs this funding supported was:

2021

• Publication of the North South Physical Activity Report Card for Children 2021 as part of a global database of 30 countries.

• Joint Research Programme with the ESRI: an epidemiological study of inequalities in child, adult, and maternal mortality in the Republic of Ireland, 2000- 2017

• Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme PhD:  Examining Corporate Lobbying and Public Health Advocacy: a critical discourse analysis

• Adult Exposure to Alcohol Advertising Study NI and ROI

• Adult Exposure to Gambling Advertising Study NI and ROI

• Developed the evidence base to inform the consideration of gambling regulations from a population health perspective

• Tobacco Report:Factors influencing the pathways to tobacco addiction based on analysis of longitudinal data on children and young adults in the Republic of Ireland

• Tobacco Report: Patterns of smoking and stop smoking attempts among older people based on analysis of longitudinal data in the Republic of Ireland

• Tobacco, Alcohol Harm Publication of academic journal article ‘Patterns of tobacco and alcohol consumption during ‘lockdown’ in the Republic of Ireland

• Loneliness Evidence review and primary research on loneliness in older people

• Loneliness Evidence review on loneliness in Ireland, North and South – including typologies of loneliness

• Making Life Better Report on Health in all Policies (HiAP) Approaches in the context of ‘Making Life Better’

• Alcohol Harm: Public Health Alcohol Research Group Membership, secretariat, and project support for monitoring of the Public Health Alcohol Act (2018).

• Tobacco Control: Assessment of capacity and accessibility of HSE-supported stop smoking services.

• COVID-19: eight weekly evidence review of Making Life Better key indicators.

• Completed the Healthy Workplace Framework evidence review

• Women’s Health Taskforce:  Membership and ‘critical friend’ role

• Evidence review on arts and creativity - the implications for health and wellbeing in older adults.

• Economic evaluation of arts and creativity interventions

• Development of Toolkit for evaluating interventions in arts and creativity to inform future design of programmes.

• Launch of report on focus group findings on adult safeguarding.

• Provide research and facilitation support to the DoH (Ireland) in their consultation on adult safeguarding within the health and social care sector to inform the development of a national policy/framework.

• Report on safeguarding policy considerations.

• Published updated Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Guidance 2021

• Chair and secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group

• Facilitated stakeholder engagement for The Health Foundation COVID-19 Impact Inquiry in Northern Ireland

• Co-ordinated informal North South Network on Loneliness and Ageing

• Co-ordinated informal North South Network on Physical Activity and Older People

• Alcohol Harm ACorN Group: Network of alcohol researchers in UK and Ireland. Secretariat and membership.

• Tobacco SHINE Smoke free home innovation network Membership

• Ageing SHINE Smoke free home innovation network Membership

• Hosted a six-seminar series with expert contributors on commercial determinants of health, conflicts of interest, public health and the law.

2022

• Provided oral and written evidence to Oireachtas Joint Committees on Health and Justice on tobacco, nicotine and gambling legislation.

• Inform and support policy development on Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Northern Ireland through modelling, research commissioning, and policy analysis.

• Co-funded A review of alcohol liaison services in the context of the management of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease in an acute hospital setting’. Partners: the Department of Hepatology, Alcohol Liaison Care Team and HSE Alcohol Programme.

• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all- island cooperation on alcohol policy.

• Support implementation and review of Tobacco Free Ireland through stakeholder engagement and evidence synthesis.

• Supported the end-of-term review of Northern Ireland’s Tobacco Control Strategy through commissioned evidence reviews and analysis.

• Ongoing contribution to the evidence base informing Tobacco 21 policy development in Ireland.

• Provided evidence and policy analysis to support the development of gambling regulation in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

• Commissioned and disseminate research on inequalities in mortality to inform policy responses to health inequalities.

• Highlighted data gaps and system needs to strengthen monitoring and the reduction of health inequalities.

• Delivered analysis to support whole systems approaches to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland.

• Produced evidence reviews and policy mapping to inform obesity prevention strategy development.

• Commenced behavioural segmentation analysis of healthy weight behaviours among adults to inform policy and service design.

• Published the Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents, highlighting inequalities.

• Developed guidance and training for health professionals to support physical activity in older age.

• Commenced a peer-led physical activity intervention study for older adults in socio-economically disadvantaged communities, ‘Walk with Me’

• Expanded Health Impact Assessment capacity through the dissemination of updated guidance and the development of training and digital learning resources.

• Developed and delivered online HIA training to support a Health in All Policies approach (Introduction to Health Impact Assessment training module).

• Supported the development of a community of practice for HIA across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

• Co-hosted all-island knowledge-exchange events examining climate change, health impacts and policy responses.

• Provided evidence on air pollution and the environmental determinants of health to inform policy discussions.

• Develop a digital learning platform to support professional development in public health (Public Health Matters learning platform).

• Created a curated free-to-use image bank to support positive representation of ageing (How We Age all-island photography competition and Image Gallery).

• Developed a discussion paper on the development of a multi-disciplinary public health workforce in Ireland.

• Coordinated and hosted the Joint North South Public Health Conference on the theme ’Healthy Planet, Healthy People’.

2023

• Promoted and disseminate guidance and training for health professionals to support older people to have more physically active lives (Generating Active Lives in Older People).

• Published an analysis of physical activity levels in older adults in Ireland and Northern Ireland using Health Survey Northern Ireland and Healthy Ireland data.

• Finalised and launch a consultation report on Home Care Services.

• Designed and delivered an analysis of stakeholder consultation on safeguarding older and vulnerable persons.

• Published report: Applying psycho-behavioural segmentation analysis to understand healthy weight management behaviours in Northern Ireland.

• Provided support to the Public Health Agency (PHA) Working Group on the Analysis of Public Attitudes and Perceptions Survey on Frailty (Northern Ireland).

• Published a briefing paper on Whole Systems Approaches to Obesity with academic partners (Northern Ireland).

• Published an Obesity Policy Matrix evidence review and Obesity Policy Mapping.

• Provided a health equity and health inequalities perspective on the Women’s Health Action Plan.

• Provided evidence to support the development of the Public Health Obesity Act and other regulatory approaches to obesity prevention, including the Online Media Safety Regulation Bill.

• Participated in the Healthy Weight for Children HSE Oversight Group by sharing evidence review outputs from Northern Ireland policy.

• Responded to a consultation on banning disposable vape products in Ireland.

• Provided evidence to the Joint Committee on Justice on the Sale of Alcohol Bill, including a written submission as part of pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill and an oral presentation to the Joint Committee.

• Hosted a seminar on Alcohol-Related Liver Disease on the island of Ireland, with input from experts.

• Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme PhD:  Examining Corporate Lobbying and Public Health Advocacy: a critical discourse analysis. Year 2

• Collaboration with HSE Health and Wellbeing on guidance on conflicts of interest and the commercial determinants of health.

• Commissioned a review of the health and economic impacts of the use of sunbeds in Ireland.

• Developed a profile of gambling behaviours and harms among 16-year-olds in Ireland to inform regulation and the development of policies and programmes (Using data from the European Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs).

• Public Health Alcohol Research Group (PHARG) Membership, secretariat, and project support for monitoring of the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018.

• Provide evidence to the Northern Ireland All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harm, as part of an APG inquiry into gambling harms.

• Contributed to the oversight of the Substance Use Strategy in Northern Ireland, Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery.

• Completed Tobacco Control Strategy End Review Northern Ireland, including Stakeholder Engagement Report, Tobacco and Mental Ill Health in Northern Ireland, Reducing Second Hand Smoke Exposures, and Summary of government-commissioned evidence reviews of e-cigarettes, and Inequalities in Smoking in Northern Ireland.

• End of Term Review of Northern Ireland’s Breastfeeding Strategy.

• Devised and developed a case study on Health Impact Assessment to support and complement the HIA training course.

• Delivered HIA training to students taking the Queen's University Belfast Master’s in Public Health programme and Public Health Medicine Trainees in Ireland (via the Faculty of Public Health in Ireland)

• Reviewed the experience and learning needs of students who have undertaken HIA training.

• Collaborated with the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) to develop a competency framework for HIA training accreditation.

• Participated in the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Health Working Group.

• Participated in Environmental Protection Agency-funded project: Toolkit for Proportionate and Consistent Consideration of Population and Human Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment

• Participated in Health Research Board-funded project: Development of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Implementation Model: Enhancing Intersectoral Approaches in Tackling Health Inequalities.

• Published an analysis of Loneliness data in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

• Coordinated and host the Joint North South Public Health Conference to focus on the theme of health inequalities: ‘The Health-Wealth Divide: Leaving No One Behind'.

• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all?island cooperation on alcohol policy.

• Published a Discussion Paper: Considering a Multi-disciplinary Public Health Workforce in Ireland.

• Participated in a Public Health Ethics and Law Network (PHELN) event: When Borders Change - Public Health, Trade and the Role of Law in the UK and Ireland (Edinburgh Law School).

• Commissioned a study on cross-border purchasing between Ireland and Northern Ireland before, and after, the implementation of minimum pricing for alcoholic drinks: Repeat cross-sectional surveys of adults in Ireland.

• Supported ACORN Network to foster alcohol policy research in the UK and Ireland.

• Completed application to seek recognition as a ‘research performing organisation’.

• Provided statement to the UK Covid Inquiry – Module 2C.

2024

• Published the Economy of Wellbeing Report developed for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.

• Governance of Interactions with Unhealthy Commodity Industries: Report and Guidance - University of Stirling, IPH and HSE Health and Wellbeing: focus group design commenced.

• Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme PhD:  Examining Corporate Lobbying and Public Health Advocacy: a critical discourse analysis. Year 3

• ‘Walk With Me’ Study: A feasibility study and pilot RCT of a peer-led walking programme to increase physical activity in inactive older adults (Northern Ireland).

• Published research examining 'Perceptions of gambling marketing among young adult gamblers in Ireland’.

• Commissioned research examining the marketing strategies used to promote the use of sunbeds in Ireland (co-funded with the HSE National Cancer Control Programme)

• Reviewed of Breastfeeding Strategy in Northern Ireland.

• Produced evidence syntheses on the health effects of vaping in children and adolescents, including systematic review evidence and peer-reviewed academic publications.

• Responded to consultations and parliamentary inquiries on public health approaches to gambling-related harms in Northern Ireland.

• Knowledge Translation for End of Term Review of Northern Ireland’s Tobacco Strategy.

• Supported EPA Research Project: Toolkit for Proportionate and Consistent Consideration of Population and Human Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment.

• Launch of Arts and Creativity and Wellbeing in Older Years Learning Pathways and Toolkit.

• Prison Health Framework in Ireland (Scoping and planning).

• Developed a report on the Safeguarding Public Consultation for the Department of Health in Ireland.

• Further developed ‘How We Age’ image bank by hosting a second all-island photography competition.

• Provided policy evidence and analysis to inform tobacco and nicotine legislation in Ireland and Northern Ireland, including engagement on the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

• Published a new HIA case study to provide practical, applied guidance for policymakers and practitioners.

• Produced reports and policy briefs on Wellbeing Economy approaches, highlighting the role of economic policy in supporting population health and sustainability across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

• Contributed evidence to inform prevention policy debates, including nutrition and folic acid fortification.

• Supported data analyses to inform tobacco and e-cigarette regulation in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

• Hosted an event in Stormont on ‘Reducing Alcohol Harms in Northern Ireland: The potential of Minimum Unit Pricing’, aimed at MLAs, officials from government departments and statutory agencies, clinicians and wider civil society.

• IPH Director of Policy appointed to Chair Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group, IPH to provide secretariat and project support.

• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all island cooperation on alcohol policy.

• Conducted a survey on HIA training needs and develop a report to summarise findings.

• Relaunched Public Health Specialty Training (Northern Ireland).

2025

• Proposed priorities to inform any successor to Making Life Better (NI) and the Healthy Ireland Framework and Strategic Action Plan (2023-2025).

• Contributed to the development of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 (Healthy Ireland) and the Northern Ireland Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy and Action Plan.

• Co-hosted event with HSE NCCP on ‘Lessons from Australia’s sunbed ban and future policy options to reduce skin cancer risk in Ireland’.

• Supported the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland on the development of legislation on tobacco and e-cigarette use in line with the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill, Northern Ireland Tobacco Control Strategy and the Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy (Healthy Ireland).

• Continued contribution to policy development on folic acid and the prevention of neural tube defects on the island of Ireland.

• Supported a stakeholder event as part of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing hosted by the Department of Health in Ireland.

• Online Health Taskforce

• Published report' Digital marketing of health-harming products to children in Ireland – options for further protections' to support the work of the Online Health Taskforce to develop a public health response to harms caused to children and young people by certain types of online activity. (Ireland).

• Provided evidence to inform a Prison Health Framework for Ireland.

• Produced and published a report, ‘An overview of sunbed use in Ireland and policy options to reduce skin cancer risk’, in the context of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026.

• Supported the Irish Physical Activity Research Consortium (I-PARC) work programme 2025-2028.

• Updated the Regulatory Options Matrix to inform policy development on overweight and obesity.

• Contributed to and supported the PEACE-Air project on air quality on the island of Ireland (PEACEPLUS-funded).

• Delivered knowledge translation on health aspects of the PEACE-Air project on air quality on the island of Ireland to inform the Clean Air Strategy in Ireland and any future air strategy in Northern Ireland.

• Collaborated with EuroHealthNet to develop a video exploring the links between climate, health, and the built environment.

• Developed further evidence to inform a public health approach to reducing gambling-related harms, including publishing the first study on gambling and suicide in Ireland.

• Designed and commissioned a survey on infant feeding to support the development of a Whole of Government Strategy on Breastfeeding in Ireland.

• Produced a report for the Department of Health in Ireland following a public consultation on Policy Proposals on Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector.

• Produced a report for the Department of Health in Ireland on the Commission on Care for Older People following a public consultation on health and social care services and supports for older people.

• Provided research support and produce a report for the Department of Health in Ireland following a public consultation on a national survey of the experience of home-support workers and nursing home healthcare assistants.

• Provided evidence review on Respite Care Models for the Department of Health in Ireland.

• Provided research support for stakeholder engagement and a public consultation on eligibility criteria for universal healthcare for the Department of Health in Ireland.

• Provided support to the Department of Health in Ireland on the Protection of Liberty Safeguarding.

• Developed and delivered phase two of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) training, which will be accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (HIA 2.0 Training Programme).

• Delivered high-quality training for public health medicine trainees in partnership with the Faculty of Public Health Medicine.

• Developed guidance to support public health professionals to advocate for public health (Championing Change: A Guide to Public Health Advocacy).

• Hosted an event to launch and disseminate guidance on public health advocacy.

• Sustained and developed North-South and East-West network engagement on health improvement policy development.

• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all-island cooperation on alcohol policy.

• Developed an application to PEACEPLUS for funding to create a cross-border public health data strategy and public health data centre (All-Island Public Health Knowledge Hub).

• Informed the development of the Healthy Ireland Framework 2026-2036 by devising a suite of insight reports based on input from national and international public health experts.

• Coordinated and hosted the 2025 Joint North South Public Health Conference focused on ‘Turning the Tide: Tackling the commercial and political determinants of health through policy and practice’.

• Provided Secretariat and project support to Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group (Ireland).