AQW 26309/22-27

Mr Daniel McCrossan
Social Democratic and Labour Party
West Tyrone

Tabled Date: 29/04/2025
Answered On Date: 15/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) for his assessment of the Economic and Social Research Institute April 2025 report entitled Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland, that states life expectancy is 82.4 years in the Republic compared to 80.4 years in NI, with the gap increasing over recent years; and (ii) to detail any action his Department is taking to address this disparity.

Answer:

Given my focus on health inequalities, I welcome any evidence and information that helps support us in tackling this important issue. However, it should be noted that official life expectancy estimates for Northern Ireland (NI) are produced by statisticians within the Department of Health and the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) whereas estimates for Republic of Ireland (ROI) are typically published by Eurostat and there may therefore be differences in methodology and quality assurance practices.

Improving life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, along with reducing the health inequalities in these areas, remain a particular challenge, which my Department actively seeks to address through all its activity.

Making Life Better (MLB) is the Executive’s overarching strategic framework to improve health and address health inequalities. It was developed based on the evidence that health and wellbeing, and health inequalities, are shaped by many factors including age, family, community, workplace, beliefs and traditions, economics, and physical and social environments. Many of these are outside the control of the Department of Health.

MLB is underpinned by a range of public health strategies and policies which focus on specific issues, such as substance use, suicide prevention, tobacco use and obesity prevention. These policies also have a focus on health inequalities and are implemented on the ground by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Reducing inequalities in health is a significant challenge. Through MLB, and across a range of key issues, my Department and the PHA continue to collaborate across departments and agencies, local government, the community and voluntary sector, and with communities themselves to address the factors which impact on health and wellbeing locally and regionally.

The work undertaken under MLB also aligns with the Integrated Care System for NI.

I have also introduced a targeted, place-based approach called Live Better which has been designed to help address health inequalities by bringing targeted health support to communities which need it most and my officials are working collaboratively with officials for ROI on aspects of this approach.