asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have some of the EEC surplus butter made available to recipients of social welfare at a much reduced price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Surplus Butter.
37.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that the EEC Commission has authorised a temporary scheme under which butter from the Community's surplus stocks can be disposed of at a reduced price to consumers in receipt of social assistance, the balance of the price to be met by subsidy from Community funds. As was announced last week, the Government propose to adopt the scheme and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are making the necessary arrangements for its introduction. It is intended that the cheap butter will be available under a system of vouchers which will be distributed to qualified recipients by the Departments responsible for schemes of a social assistance nature, that is, the Departments respon-Social Welfare, Health and Defence. A further announcement about the commencement of the scheme will be made when the detailed arrangements have been finalised.
Those eligible under the scheme will be recipients of social assistance and their statutory dependants. Subject to approval of the Commission, the scheme will accordingly cover persons in receipt of (a) non-contributory old age, blind and widows' and orphans' pensions; (b) unemployment assistance and home assistance; (c) allowances for deserted wives, for disabled persons, and for persons suffering from infectious disease; certain recipients of allowances under the Army Pensions Acts will also be covered. The scheme will enable eligible persons to buy one lb. of butter per month at a price of about 8p for themselves and each of their statutory dependants.
Congratulations to Deputy Meaney.