The battle against childhood obesity is to be stepped up with a 'no fry zone' near schools, playgrounds and youth sports facilities in the Republic of Ireland.
A coalition of health groups is behind a push to stop fatty food being sold within a 15-minute walk or 1.5km of the schoolyard.
A quarter of Irish 11-year-olds are now clinically obese and health experts have warned that the country faces a multi-billion euro healthcare nightmare by 2035 unless significant steps are taken to reduce youngsters' consumption of fast food.
National planning guidelines which would govern where takeaways could set up are currently passing thorough the consultation stage with the Government due to sign off on them in the coming months.
Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald insisted that for the plan to be effective, the distances involved have to be "meaningful".
She said that the country must act quickly to avoid a future health catastrophe.
"The truth is that we are facing a very disturbing surge in obesity and this will have terrible long-term consequences for our children," she said.
