Vol. 468 No. 4
882 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will extend the butter voucher scheme to persons on invalidity pensions; if he will include low fat spreads in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15691/96]
The scheme under which butter vouchers are made available to certain categories of social welfare recipients is wholly funded by the European Union as part of the EU butter market support system. Given that the primary purpose of the measure is to help support EU butter sales, the scheme does not cover other products which, in fact, compete with butter. Within general guidelines set by the EU, the precise determination of welfare recipient categories eligible under the scheme is a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare.
