Healthy Ireland Programme
Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013–2025, is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland. Healthy Ireland was developed in response to a number of significant public health challenges, including significant projected increases in levels of preventable chronic disease and growing heath inequalities. Healthy Ireland asserts that population health and wellbeing is critical for our social, economic and cultural progress, and our overall quality of life. It recognises the requirement for a ‘whole of Government’ approach to addressing the social determinants and predictors of health and wellbeing, many of which fall outside the health sector, e.g. housing, transportation, education, workplaces and environment along with an individual’s socio economic status. Healthy Ireland also provides for an inclusive, inter-sectoral approach to improve population health and wellbeing by shifting our emphasis to prevention, and to empowering individuals and communities to take more responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)
Each local authority has set up a LCDC to develop, co-ordinate and implement local and community development programmes and one of the objectives of the Donegal Local Community Development Committee is to help create and sustain a healthy place for people to be born, grow, live, work and age in, through the development and implementation of the Healthy Ireland programme in County Donegal.
A Healthy Ireland, where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential, where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyone’s responsibility
1. Increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life
2. Reduce health inequalities
3. Protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing
4. Create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland
• Equity
• Fairness
• Proportionality
• Openness and Accountability
• Solidarity
• Sustainability
Healthy Donegal - Latest Projects
Over 80 New Civic Dollars Project 'Earn Zones' including Playgrounds, Beaches, Trails & Forest Walks
Following on from the resounding success of last year’s Civic Dollars Pilot Project, Donegal County Council is delighted to announce the extension of this innovative initiative over the next two years.
Speaking from the Shore Front Walk, Killybegs - a newly added ‘Earn Zone’ - Chair of Donegal Local Community Development Committee, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy (pictured above) said “A measure of the success and popularity of the Civic Dollars project is in its growth from an initial fivesites identified as ‘earn zones’ at our pilot launch in 2023 to over eighty sites across the County - including playgrounds, beaches, parks, trails, forest walks and the Shore Front walk along the Donegal and Shore Roads here in Killybegs”. Cllr. Kennedy added, the Civic Dollars project aims to provide people with an incentive and support to improve their mental health, increase their physical activity levels, and encourage engagement with local community groups and support for the local business community.
Participants download the Civic Dollars mobile phone app (on Google Play or the App Store) and earn online credits by spending time in local outdoor resources that have been identified countywide. Credits can then be redeemed in exchange for local and countywide rewards provided by the local business community e.g., a discounted coffee or discounted entry into a local attraction OR donate them to a locally identified community group who can exchange them for rewards.
The app measures time spent in a designated ‘Earn Zone’ and does not record steps or distance to ensure the project is inclusive of participants with mobility or health issues. The technology used is non-invasive and privacy-friendly, by only using GPS data and allowing users to opt in once they enter an ‘earn zone’. Data is anonymised, and a user’s session will end automatically once they walk out of the ‘earn zone’ geo-fence.
See below for a list of the current ‘Earn Zones’
For more information see www.civicdollars.com or scan the QR Code below
Donegal County Council through Healthy Donegal and funded under the Healthy Ireland Round 4 Programme has launched a free convenient, pocket-sized guide to playgrounds across Donegal.
The Donegal Playground Passport contains a map of Donegal with forty playgrounds numbered and listed in each Municipal District. Each playground is accompanied by a QR code and GPS coordinates that will take you straight to the swings and slides! The guide also includes details of some of the free or low-cost activities in the nearby area for those looking to extend their day out.
Pictured L-R: Paddy Doherty, Divisional Manager, Donegal County Council; Cllr. Liam Blaney, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council; Seamus Canning, Area Manager, Donegal County Council; Cllr. Donal Mandy Kelly, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District; Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Coordinator, Donegal County Council and Mr. John G. McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Liam Blaney was delighted to announce that the Playground Passports will be distributed to all primary schools throughout the County over the coming weeks and will also be available from local libraries, tourism offices and family resource centres. Cllr. Blaney acknowledged and paid tribute to the parents, volunteers and community groups who work tirelessly alongside Donegal County Council to manage and maintain playgrounds throughout the County to ensure a safe environment for children to play.
Outlining the significance of the Healthy Ireland Programme, Donegal County Council Chief Executive Mr. John G. McLaughlin said “Healthy Donegal was established in 2018 and is currently in its fourth round of funding under the Healthy Ireland Programme. The Healthy Ireland Framework provides a cross-Government focus to deliver the vision for a Healthy Ireland. In promoting activity-friendly environments like playgrounds, Donegal County Council is helping empower people and communities to encourage children to be more physically active which is a significant contributor to their health and overall wellbeing.”
Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Cllr. Donal Mandy Kelly took the opportunity to encourage families to use the Playground Passport to explore the great outdoors and emphasised the important role of play in the development of children’s creative, social and emotional skills. Cllr. Kelly added free, unstructured play allows children to build resilience, be independent and to learn how to make decisions on their own to achieve results.
To download a copy of the Playground Passport Click Here or as Gaeilge Anseo
For further information please contact mfitzgerald@donegalcoco.ie
Active Play Programme Launch
Pictured L-R: Danny Gillespie, Donegal Sports Partnership; Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Programme; Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council; Paddy Doherty, Senior Executive Officer, Community Development, Donegal County Council; Ciaran Martin, Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme; Kirsty Browne, Donegal Sports Partnership.
Donegal County Council in collaboration with Donegal Sports Partnership and funded through the Healthy Ireland Programme and Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme launched the Active Play Donegal Programme on 7th November 2024.
The Active Play Donegal Programme aims to increase participation in physical activity for children through developing the capacity and skills of ‘Play Leaders’ within communities. Identified Play Leaders will receive training and support in how to encourage children in their domain to become more physically active through the medium of play.
Speaking at the launch of the programme in the Craoibhin Community Enterprise Centre, Termon Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh said “Being active through play helps children not only increase their physical fitness but also builds confidence and resilience while encouraging creativity and problem-solving skills - all of which benefit children’s health and happiness as they grow.”
Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh pictured with Active Play Programme participants from ICARE, Buncrana; Dunfanaghy Family Resource Centre; Scoil Na Croise Naofa, Dunfanaghy; Finn Valley Family Resource Centre; Downstrands Family Resource Centre and Raphoe Family Resource Centre; representatives from Donegal Sports Partnership and Donegal County Council staff.
Mr. Paddy Doherty, Senior Executive Officer, Community Development, Donegal County Council said “Donegal County Council works in partnership through our Local Community Development Committee to deliver programmes such as the Healthy Ireland and Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programmes which help us to implement ways to support health and wellbeing initiatives across the County through the delivery of projects, like Active Play Donegal”.
Donegal Sports Partnership Project Officer, Kirsty Brown said “Active Play is a more-free form of play, which moves away from a very structured form of coaching. It promotes a shift back to the more informal or free forms of play such as throwing ball, races, catching games, obstacle courses, hopscotch, rounders etc which enable children and adults to participate in a range of fun recreational activities while fostering a healthier lifestyle.”
This initiative is funded through the Healthy Ireland Round 4 Programme and Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme, which supported by the Department of Health.
Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Coordinator, Donegal County Council and Rosita Mahony, Social Inclusion, Donegal County Council pictured with Emma Kane, A/Principal of Coláiste na Carraige, teachers Michael Patton and Danny McGlynn, first year students and Finn Harps staff at the launch of the Show Racism the Red Card Programme in Coláiste na Carraige.
Donegal County Council in partnership with Finn Harps and funded through the Healthy Ireland Programme launched the Show Racism the Red Card Programme with students and staff from Coláiste na Carraige on 23rd October.
The Show Racism the Red Card Programme aims to harness the high profile of sports people to combat racism and provides educational resources, workshops, training and awareness-raising activities for primary and secondary schools, youth groups, workplaces and sporting stakeholders nationwide.
Outlining the significance of the Healthy Ireland Programme Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Coordinator, Donegal County Council said “The Healthy Ireland Framework provides a cross-Government focus to deliver the vision for a Healthy Ireland where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential. In promoting programmes like Show Racism the Red Card we help empower young people and communities to contribute towards a healthier, just and more prosperous society.”
Rosita Mahony, Social Inclusion, Donegal County Council said “According to the Central Statistics Office, the migrant population in Ireland has increased from less than 2% of the total population in 2003 to over 14% in 2024. The changes in Irish society, are also reflected in our schools through increasing diversity in the student population. The Show Racism the Red Card programme supports the work of Donegal County Council’s Social Inclusion team and builds upon the core values and vision outlined in the Black and Minority Ethnic Inclusion A Strategy for County Donegal 2021-2026”.
Coláiste na Carraige, A/Principal Emma Kane welcomed the opportunity to take part in the Show Racism the Red Card programme and commended the students on their willingness to engage and said “The subject matter of racism, diversity and social inclusion is highly topical and emotive, through education we can help fight racism and reduce the barriers to inclusion”.
Stephen McNutt, Football and Social Responsibility Officer, Finn Harps advised that “Show Racism the Red Card was founded in the UK in 1996 by footballer Shaka Hislop, and has been operating in Ireland since 2007. While the programme will continue to be rolled out in 2025, places are limited so we would encourage schools to get in touch to avail of the training”.
This initiative is funded through the Healthy Ireland Round 4 Programme. The Healthy Ireland Fund supported by the Department of Health.
Pictured Back Row: Ciara Cunanne, Healthy Ireland at your Library Coordinator; Belinda Glackin, Donegal Library Service; Sinead Noonan, Twin Towns Librarian; Paddy Doherty, Divisional Manager, Community Development; Ciaran Martin, Community Development; Hugh Carlin, Donegal Sports Partnership; Richard Ryan, Donegal Library Service; Christina O’Donnell, Social Inclusion, Community Development; Kirsty Browne, Donegal Sports Partnership. Front Row: Deirdre Laverty, Memory Assessment Support Services, HSE; Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Coordinator; Dara McDaid, HSE; Donna Kavanagh, Senior Executive Librarian, Donegal Library Services.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley has launched the Healthy Ireland Moments of Happiness at your Library initiative which uses the innovative award-winning Tovertafel games system to positively influence the quality of life for children with autism, seniors living with dementia and adults with intellectual disabilities using interactive light projected games that stimulate physical activity, social interaction, cognition, and moments of happiness.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley with Catherine McGeehan at the launch of the Healthy Ireland Moments of Happiness at your Library Initiative
At the launch, held in the Twin Towns Library in the Base Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar, Cllr. Harley paid tribute to the Donegal Library Service and said ‘Our libraries are a fun, free, inclusive resource at the heart of our communities – where anyone can learn, discover and develop, regardless of age, ability, education or income and the Healthy Ireland funded Moments of Happiness at your Library initiative provides a unique opportunity for us to support and promote inclusive care within our local community’.
Healthy Ireland at your Library Coordinator, Ciara Cunnane explained how the ‘Tovertafel’ is Dutch for ‘Magic Table’ and projects vibrant, lifelike images onto a white surface in the form of games that react to even the smallest of hands and movements, creating a “magic-like” effect that captivates and engages users. Ciara outlined the person-centred benefits of this type of purposeful play and advised that while the Tovertafel is a new addition to the Twin Towns Library, Tovertafels and a Sensory Pod are available for all members of the public as part of Donegal Library Sensory Services in Buncrana Library, Central Library Letterkenny, Leabharlann Phobail Gaoth Dobhair and Bundoran Library respectively.
Outlining the significance of the Healthy Ireland Programme, Healthy Ireland Coordinator for Donegal, Margaret Fitzgerald said “The Healthy Ireland Programme provides a cross-sectoral focus for improving and supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland and is central to the work of Donegal County Council and Donegal Local Community Development Committee.”
Students from Robertson National School, Stranorlar and Bluestacks Training and Progression Programme creating Moments of Happiness using the Tovertafel!
The Moments of Happiness at your Library initiative is funded under the Healthy Ireland Programme, which is supported by the Dept. of Health.
If you would like more information on using any of the sensory services including the Tovertafel call in or contact the libraries as follows –
Twin Towns Library - Tel: 074 9175384 or Email: twintowns@donegallibrary.ie
Buncrana Library – Tel: 074 9361941 or Email: buncrana@donegallibrary.ie
Bundoran Library - Tel: 071 9829665 or Email: bundoran@donegallibrary.ie
Central Library Letterkenny – Tel: 074 9124950 or Email: central@donegallibrary.ie
Leabharlann Phobail Gaoth Dobhair - Tel: 074 9560862 or Email: gaothdobhair@donegallibrary.ie
Pictured L-R Front: Chief Executive of Donegal County Council John G McLaughlin; HSE Tobacco Lead Fiona Boyle; Healthy Donegal Coordinator Margaret Fitzgerald; HSE Health Promotion Officer Dara McDaid, HSE Health and Wellbeing General Manager Siobhan Patten, Back L-R Cllr. Paul Canning; Chair of the Donegal LCDC Cllr. Niamh Kennedy; Community Development Divisional Manager Paddy Doherty; Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr.Liam Blaney; Director of Community Development and Planning Services Liam Ward.
Donegal County Council through Healthy Donegal and in conjunction with the HSE Stop Smoking Services is inviting groups, organisations and businesses in Co. Donegal to become tobacco and vape free campuses in the lead up to the official launch of the Not Around Us Campaign on 31st of May 2025 - World No Tobacco Day.
The Healthy Ireland funded, ‘Not Around Us’ Campaign is about promoting an environment where it is easier for those who use tobacco to quit and stay quit while helping to de-normalise smoking tobacco for the next generation.
The campaign, which will be officially launched on 31st May, is in response to the government’s national target for less than 5% smoking prevalence in Ireland by 2025. It is also about Donegal County Council in partnership with the HSE and other stakeholders, continuing to promote the denormalisation of smoking tobacco at every opportunity and the protection of children and young people from second hand smoke - two of the underpinning objectives of Chapter 7 of the Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy.
The purpose of ‘Not Around Us’ is to:
• Help protect children and young people from second-hand smoke exposure
• Contribute to the denormalisation of smoking/vaping for children and young people
• Reduce environmental nuisance, cost of cleaning and damage that discarded tobacco products create
• Signpost the HSE Quit services.
The initiative will see Donegal County Council, the HSE and a range of stakeholders in the County come together and align our combined efforts to work towards a tobacco and vape free Donegal. Groups, organisations and businesses interested in becoming a Tobacco and Vape Free Campus and signing up to the campaign can register your interest here or scan the QR code below.
If you are interested in quitting smoking please contact Sarah on 086049246, Dawn on 0863404321 and Cara on 0871444489 or stopsmokingdonegal@hse.ie to receive information on any of the 16 FREE face-to-face clinics throughout Donegal. You can also contact QUIT.ie or freephone 1800 201 203 for free support.
When you quit for 28 days you are 5 times more likely to quit for good and you have a greater chance of quitting when you get support from specialist staff and use stop smoking medications.
Pictured L-R: Mr. John G. McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council; Ms. Anne McAteer, Health Promotion & Improvement / Health & Wellbeing Manager, HSE; Cllr. Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council; Ms. Fiona Boyle, Senior Smoking Advisor, Health Promotion & Improvement, HSE; Ms. Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Coordinator, Donegal County Council.
In Ireland, every week smoking causes 100 deaths and over 1,000 hospital admissions and is the leading cause of avoidable premature death. One in every two people who smoke tobacco will die from a tobacco-related disease and life expectancy for tobacco users is at least 10 years lower than for non-tobacco users.
The Healthy Ireland funded, ‘Not Around Us’ Campaign is about promoting an environment where it is easier for those who use tobacco to quit and stay quit while helping to de-normalise smoking tobacco for the next generation. Healthy Donegal plans to launch the ‘Not Around Us’ Campaign in September 2021 to support the implementation of the national Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy. Working towards these common goals, Donegal County Council through Healthy Donegal and in conjunction with the HSE Smoking Cessation Team will continue to promote the denormalisation of smoking tobacco at every opportunity and the protection of children and young people from second hand smoke - two of the underpinning objectives of the Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Jack Murray said:
“In 2009, Donegal County Council led the way by being the first Local Authority to introduce Tobacco Free playgrounds in Ireland - since then, numerous County, City and Town Councils followed suit and have introduced similar initiatives. In adopting the Tobacco Free Campus Policy Donegal County Council is once again leading by example in promoting the denormalisation of smoking, vaping and tobacco use throughout all Council buildings and facilities ahead of inviting and encouraging groups, organisations and businesses in Co. Donegal to become Tobacco Free campuses at the launch of the Not Around Us Campaign in September this year.”
Donegal County Council Chief Executive Mr. John G. McLaughlin said:
“Tobacco Free Ireland sets a target for Ireland to have a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5% by 2025. The introduction of a Tobacco Free Campus Policy under the Healthy Ireland initiative aligns with and supports actions specific to local authorities under the Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy. Through this policy Donegal County Council hopes to change social norms around tobacco use by protecting and improving the health, safety and welfare of staff, Elected Members, visitors, and the wider community while creating a supportive and encouraging environment for staff to stop smoking.”
Donegal County Council Director of Community Development and Planning Services Mr. Liam Ward said:
“Community development is a process whereby community members are supported by organisations and agencies to identify and take collective action on issues which are important to them. As we navigate the path of the Covid19 Pandemic, the issue of health and wellbeing is brought to the forefront of all our lives like never before. Donegal Local Community Development Committee through Healthy Donegal is helping to create and sustain a healthy place for our community in Donegal through the development and implementation of the Healthy Ireland programme.”
HSE Health Promotion & Improvement / Health & Wellbeing Manager Anne McAteer said:
“The introduction of policies such as the Tobacco Free Campus Policy by Donegal County Council plays a large part in making Ireland tobacco free and also plays an important role in supporting people to quit smoking tobacco. Donegal County Council is to be commended for their contribution to supporting the government’s vision for a Tobacco Free Ireland by 2025 through this Healthy Ireland initiative.”
If you are interested in quitting smoking please contact Fiona Boyle on 0872514790 to receive information on any of the 13 FREE face-to-face clinics throughout Donegal. You can also contact QUIT.ie or freephone 1800 201 203 for free support. . When you quit for 28 days you are 5 times more likely to quit for good and you have a greater chance of quitting when you get support from specialist staff and use treatments like Champix or Nicotine Replacement Therapy to help you quit.
Donegal County Council’s Tobacco Free Campus Policy came into effect on 30th September 2021.
‘The Healthy Ireland Fund supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’
#QuittingIsWinning #NotAroundUs #SmokeFreeCampus
