Vol. 474 No. 1
169 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason that he has reduced the amount of butter vouchers available to social welfare recipients over the past number of years; the amount of reduction imposed by him in each of the years 1995 to date in 1997 in both volume and financial terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2602/97]
170 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for cutting by 50 per cent the level of butter vouchers made available to social welfare recipients and their dependants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2625/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.
This measure is fully funded by the European Union without any national Exchequer contribution. Ireland is the only member state operating the scheme. Following a recent review of the future of the scheme, the European Commission, in its report to the Council, concluded that, while the scheme should be extended for a further two years at an unchanged aid level, the monthly entitlement should be halved to reflect the general decline in butter consumption in Ireland. Since 1980, per capita butter consumption in Ireland has fallen from 2lbs per month to under 1lb. The Agriculture Council agreed in December to continue the scheme for a further two years on the basis of the Commission proposal.
There have been no other reductions in the monthly entitlement in the years 1995 to date, while the value of each voucher, which stood at 51p at the beginning of 1995, was increased to 52p per 1b of butter from 1 July 1995 and currently remains at that value.
