3478. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the next national survey of food and nutrient intake in children will be carried out (details supplied); whether her Department has considered establishing a continuous national diet and nutrition survey on a rolling annual basis, as operates in the United Kingdom through its National Diet and Nutrition Survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56528/26]

I wish to inform the Deputy that ‘National Children's Food Survey III’ has commenced on 01/07/2026, with an expected conclusion date of 30/06/2030.

The overall objective of ‘National Children's Food Survey III’ is to establish a nationally representative database of food consumption in 600 school-aged children aged between 5-12 years, and to update 2017-18 data for this group. This survey will supplement existing data on pre-school children, teenagers and adults living in Ireland. The database will be designed to address both nutrition and food safety issues of relevance to the development and implementation of public health policy, food safety risk assessment, and to the needs of the food industry.

The ‘National Children's Food Survey III’ is currently co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, food and the Marine and the Department of Health. Agreement has been reached between both Departments to establish a continuous national diet and nutrition survey on a rolling annual basis.